Get out of Sydney : The NRL must relocate before it s too late A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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As the continuing uncertainty of the latest COVID-19 outbreak affects Sydney, one thing has become certain: the National Rugby League must relocate before it’s too late.
In Sydney itself, games are going ahead without crowds, NRL teams already under stage 4 protocols and the entire greater Sydney area, including the Central Coast and Wollongong, are under lockdown.
In the past two weeks, around 20 NRL players, coaches and referees have been stood down due to breaches, either deliberately breaking protocol or just as a result of having visited an exposure site.
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A historic trifecta occurred when the Lismore Swans hosted the reformed Casino Lions at Oakes Oval on Saturday April 24.
Not only were the two clubs each playing their first match in the AFL North Coast league, it was also their inaugural ANZAC DAY Shield match – and the home side won by a leviathan 275 points. ANZAC DAY SHIELD: The Casino Lions created the idea of annual Anzac Day match against Lismore Swans. The Swans won the inaugural game by 275 points. Photo: Alison Paterson
In an incredible debut for Swan’s coach Ashley Pritchard, his players took the Lions to the cleaners and then some when they kicked 45 goals to win 45.19 (289) to 2.2 (14).
Spectacular result in Swans vs Lions match northernstar.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from northernstar.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Subscriber only Many of Lismore s CBD small businesses enjoyed a massive boost to weekend trade thanks to the NRL s pre-season trial game between the Gold Coast Titans and the New Zealand Warriors at the recently upgraded Oakes Oval. In the past few years the region has been through the wringer with floods, bushfires and COVID-19 to name a few of the challenges. Lismore City Council s Manager of Economic Development Tina Irish estimates that the game bought in almost $350,000 into our local economy. The council said tickets to the game sold out on Friday night with a reduced capacity of 4800 due to COVID-19.