NRL 2020: NZ Warriors reportedly granted exemption to enter Australia

  • 01/05/2020

Despte reports the NZ Warriors have been granted an exemption to enter Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision is still with Australian border security.

On Thursday, the club booked a charter flight bound for Tamworth, New South Wales, but still did not have permission to land in Australia during its coronavirus lockdown.

Nine reports the federal government has now given Tamworth Airport the all-clear to become a temporary international airport on May 3. 

The Australian cabinet met early on Friday to discuss several COVID-19-related issues, including the NRL's competition relaunch.

According to Nine NRL reporter Neil Breen, the airport will be allowed to receive just one international flight - the Alliance Airlines flight with the Warriors players and staff aboard.

"A private charter that the Warriors have booked to come out of Auckland and to arrive in Tamworth on Sunday afternoon at 4pm," Breen says.

"There will be 40 passengers on board that plane. They'll be processed through customs, then the restrictions are they must quarantine for 14 days before they can play."

While questions still surround the Warriors' conditions of quarantine, player remuneration and a guarantee on how long they will be away from home, the report suggests a big step forward for the resumption of the 2020 NRL season.

But late on Friday Mr Morrison confirmed to Australian press that no decsion had been made.