The Kaiviti Silktails rugby league team are already back home in Fiji, after their season was ended early for a second straight year because of Covid-19.
The Kaiviti Silktails during pre Covid-times in Australia. Photo: Facebook/Kaiviti Silktails
The Fijian side relocated to Australia six months ago to compete in the Ron Massey Cup, after last year's competition was cancelled because of the pandemic.
The New South Wales Rugby League Board suspended major competitions in July, following the Delta outbreak in Greater Sydney, and confirmed on Tuesday the New South Wales Cup, Women's Premiership, Jersey Flegg Cup, Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup had been abandoned.
Kaiviti Silktails team liaison Tas Baitieri confirmed the squad had left Sydney for Fiji on a flight on Wednesday, and said after spending half the year in Australia, players and staff were excited to re-connect with their families again.
The team is expected to return to Australia in November for pre season training, ahead of the 2022 Ron Massey Cup season.
Meanwhile the Papua New Guinea Hunters season remains on hold because of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions across Queensland.
The Hunters last match was a 40-30 defeat by the Mackay Cutters on 24 July. Their match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on 31 July was cancelled hours before kickoff after South-east Queensland was put into a snap lockdown, with the Intrust Super Cup competition currently suspended until further notice.
Queensland Rugby League (QRL) announced on Wednesday it had extended the season by two weeks in an effort to ensure as many rounds and games are played as possible when the on-field competition resumes.
The Intrust Super Cup Finals are now scheduled to begin on the weekend of 18 and 19 September, with the Grand Final pencilled in for the weekend of 9 and 10 October.
This means the 2021 grand final is now scheduled for the weekend of 9 and 10 October at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium.
The Hunters round 16 and 17 fixtures against Central Queensland Capras and Tweed Heads Seagulls have been postponed until next month, with QRL confirming that round 18 of the Intrust Super Cup will only proceed next weekend if restrictions across the entire state are lifted by 5pm on Monday.