NSWRL makes tough decision to abandon major competitions

Due to the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 outbreak across the Greater Sydney region, on Tuesday New South Wales Rugby League announced they had been forced to abandon a number of competitions.

Amongst them were the NSW Cup, Ron Massey Cup and Jersey Flegg - competitions in which Bathurst's Fearnley brothers had featured prior to the lockdown.

"With the current Public Health Order in force until at least 28 August, and there understandably being no current NSW Government sanctioned road map out of the lockdown for sport, the board was left with little option but to cancel our major competitions," NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said.

"In reaching their decision, the board considered its obligation to provide participants with a safe environment to play sport. The NSW Government's health advice, particularly the state of infection rates and vaccination rates, made it difficult to provide that environment."

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When the 2021 competitions were initially suspended for a fortnight in June, Adam Fearnley had hoped that would be enough time for the situation to improve.

Teams Adam Fearnley had been part of had been performing well, Penrith's NSW Cup side sat on top of the ladder and the Ron Massey outfit had lost just once. Meanwhile the Flegg team Adam's younger brother Brad was involved with sat third.

"Hopefully the two weeks will be enough to clear things up and we get back to our regular schedule," he said.

However, the brothers will now have to wait for 2022 to have a chance at that regular schedule with Penrith once more.

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