State of Origin thrown into chaos after NSW border closures

Sports Reporter

Wed, 23 June 2021, 1:06 am·2-min read

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) before a press conference and (pictured left) Nathan Cleary taking a photo with a fan. — NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) and the Queensland Government have restricted travel from many NSW residents, which will impact the family of Blues stars and fans wanting to travel to Queensland. (Getty Images)

A number of families of the Blues stars for both the women's and men's teams for State of Origin II are facing uncertainty over whether they will be able to travel to Queensland after restrictions regarding borders.

On Wednesday NSW recorded 16 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 with the state government enacting a range of restrictions across greater Sydney, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains for one week.

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Stricter restrictions will be imposed from 4pm on Wednesday in seven local government areas (LGAs) of concern with The City of Sydney, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick added to the already listed hotspot of Waverley.

A number of Origin players, their families and NRL staff reside in these areas and would need to make a desperate dash to Queensland for Sunday's game to avoid border closures.

For the men's team, many players are already in Blues camp in Kingscliff and will be able to take part in the game after signing border declarations when arriving.

But family and friends from any of the LGA's in question will most likely have to cancel any plans of travelling to Brisbane after being restricted.

NSW Premier urges caution over travel

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian urged anyone living or working in the seven LGAs not to travel before the 4pm cut off on Wednesday.

"We are being realistic and proportionate to the risk there. If you are living or working in those seven LGAs, please don't travel outside Sydney," she said.

"We don't want to contaminate or spread this variant into the regions.

"We are being proportionate to the risk, but it is an evolving situation."

This will most likely rule out a number of fans who were also planning on travelling to witness the Suncorp spectacle and a chance for the Blues to regain the Origin shield.

A number of media outlets are also working out solutions after staff were planned to travel to Brisbane to cover the game.

with AAP

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