The NRL have today advised St George Illawarra that the remainder of Round 1 of the Telstra Premiership, including the Dragons' game against the Wests Tigers on Sunday at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, will proceed as normal.
However, the Dragons' Round 2 clash against the Penrith Panthers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah will be played behind closed doors. Spectators will not be allowed to attend games until further notice beyond this weekend.
This code-wide decision by the NRL to play Round 2 of the Telstra Premiership in empty venues follows the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and Prime Minister Scott Morrison's suspension of all public gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday.
The Dragons will comply, in the name of health and safety, with any future directives from the NRL, State and Federal Governments.
While fans are encouraged to attend this weekend’s NRL matches, anyone who is experiencing any Coronavirus symptoms or feeling unwell are advised to stay away.
"We're in unprecedented times. The health and safety of our players and fans is paramount and is the top of every decision we are making," NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said on Friday afternoon.
"We can't put a timeframe on [how long we will play in front of empty stadiums], nor can the government. This decision will be dictated by the government and we will take their advice all the way through."
The Dragons apologises for any inconvenience this decision has caused for Red V members and fans, and will communicate next steps once further information is determined.
