NRL hopes to have crowds on the stand by July 1st

As the 2020 NRL season near its resumption date, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has already identified the game's next mission is to get crowds back in the stands by July 1st.

The NRL will become Australia's first football code and one of the world's first major competitions to restart when the Broncos and the Eels relaunch the season on Thursday night following weeks of biosecurity planning led by V'landys and the NRL’s Project Apollo committee.

The chairman has been at the center stage of securing what had seemed an ambitious May 28th kick-off, negotiating with broadcasters over a new television deal which is expected to be announced this week.

Teams will play behind closed doors, but as the coronavirus restrictions are being eased, the NRL has its sights set on taking the next step much earlier than had been anticipated.

The Paramatta Eels will take on the Brisbane Broncos at 9.50 pm this Thursday, the Cowboys will face the Titans at 8 pm Friday, the Roosters will play the Rabbitohs at 9.55 pm Friday.