Teams in league limbo
The Dolphins’ Intrust Super Cup and Hasting Deering Colts seasons are in limbo as South East Queensland emerges from its snap eight-day lockdown this week.
Restrictions announced by the State Government on Sunday included a ban on organised sport of any description until 4pm on August 22 including community, club and recreational sport.
The ban includes statewide competitions such as the Intrust Super Cup and Hastings Deering Colts. Both competitions were suspended on July 31.
It is still unclear when training and games can resume and how the draw will be affected if the season restarted.
In a statement, the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) says: “During this time, a ban on community sport has been put in place for the next two weeks, and as such, all training and games are prohibited for clubs in the Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset and Scenic Rim local government areas (LGAs).
“As a result, QRL's statewide competitions including Intrust Super Cup and Hastings Deering Colts have been suspended during this period.”
Rounds 15 and 16 were cancelled in which the Dolphins’ Intrust Super Cup side were to play Mackay Cutters (August 1) and Northern Pride (August 7). They were due to play Souths Logan Magpies in round 17 at Davies Park on August 15.
Adapting to change
Coach Adam Mogg says the situation is changing constantly but players have been following fitness programs and doing what they can to stay on track while in lockdown at home.
“They’ve been trying to keep each other ticking over as far as the physical side goes and being in touch mentally, knowing the team is still together even though they’ve been in home isolation,” Mogg says.
He hopes the lockdown and lack of training will not slow the momentum the side has created in the past couple of months but says ‘we’ll have to wait and see’.
“Probably for us the lockdown has been OK, some guys will come out of injury and we’ll have more troops on board,” he says.
Mogg says the season has already been shortened and he expects it to be shortened further ahead of the Grand Final, which is due to be played at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday, September 26. But there is also talk the season might be extended, so nothing is set in stone.
“We’ll work towards that until we hear otherwise. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. The guys are pretty good doing their own thing at home,” he says.
“We’ve used 46 players this season which must be some sort of record. It’s a real compliment to our football club – the Colts and the QCup teams.
“We’ve had so many injuries, impact injuries and bad luck which is probably a reflection of not playing last year. The players and staff have stayed the course to do their job.
“Both QCup and Colts are in the mix, which is a fantastic result. We’re still in there with a fighting chance.”
NRL games at Redcliffe
Moreton Daily Stadium will host a round 22 NRL double-header on Sunday. The Warriors will take on the Bulldogs at 1.50pm and the Sharks will play the Knights at 4pm.
The stadium will be operating at 50 per cent capacity, under a COVID-Safe plan and masks will be mandatory. Tickets will be on sale via Ticketek.
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