The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team will fly to Brisbane on Sunday after being granted approval to travel by Queensland Health Authorities.
The PNG Hunters will be based in Queensland for the 2021 season. Photo: Facebook/PNG Hunters
The club was forced to delay their departure by one week after a request to isolate and train together at a facility on the Gold Coast was denied.
Thirty players and six management staff will spend two weeks in managed isolation at a Brisbane hotel before moving to their permanent base at Runaway Bay to prepare for the 2021 Intrust Super Cup competition.
"It's great news for us all to finally get the approval for the SP Hunters players and officials to travel to Queensland," said PNG Rugby Football League acting CEO Stanley Hondina.
"...as per our application and approval requirement, the travelling party is doing the PCR basic covid testing and will be in isolation for the next 72 hours before they board the flight."
"This is part of the strict requirements they have to fulfil pre travel to Queensland and post arrival in Brisbane."
The PNG Hunters began pre-season training in December. Photo: Facebook/PNG Hunters
The PNG Hunters squad is relocating to Australia in order to retain their place in the Intrust Super Cup, after last year's competition was cancelled because of Covid-19.
Prime Minister James Marape, Sports Minister Wesley Raminai and the Australian High Commissioner to PNG Jon Philip will be at the airport on Sunday to farewell the team.
The Hunters open their Queensland Cup campaign on 20 March against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.