Newcastle Knights will be forced to face Brisbane Broncos on a four-day turnaround with the NRL sticking to their schedule for next weekend.
The Knights were meant to play Canberra on Saturday, with the one-day postponement causing scheduling headaches as teams usually have a minimum five-day turnaround between matches.
With the Novacastrians down to meet Brisbane on Thursday night, the NRL handed the Novacastrians the early game on Sunday afternoon to give them the longest possible recovery time.
The NRL is contractually bound to give the Nine Network a Thursday night game so can’t move that match to later in the weekend.
Working in the Knights’ favour is they will then have a 10-day turnaround into their next match against Cronulla.
The rescheduling follows the NRL’s deal with the Queensland Government to play on during the snap three-day lockdown.
Clubs will also have to leave some key staff and players back at the hotel to minimise people at the ground, with Melbourne football manager Frank Ponissi among those to be left behind on Sunday.
Only 19 players are allowed to be in attendance at the ground – leaving up to 11 behind – while 10 staff can also be present.
It means some clubs will have to do without their regular analysts, sports scientists and strength and conditioning coaches at games.
AAP
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