The Australian National Rugby League (NRL)'s decision to move the Dolphins vs. Rabbitohs game to Sydney has been met with strong criticism from Bree Nikorima, the wife of star halfback Kodi Nikorima. This decision has raised concerns about the plight of players' families in severe weather conditions, particularly those left alone in affected areas.
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03-06, 2025Concurrently, Brisbane Lions champion player Lachie Neale of the Australian Football League (AFL) stated that he would not travel to Victoria if the AFL chose to move Brisbane's round-one match against Geelong. Neale's statement highlights the trade-off players face between family responsibilities and game obligations, as well as the expectations for how leagues should support players' families during crises.
The two major sports leagues have taken markedly different approaches to Tropical Cyclone "Alfred." The AFL postponed Thursday night's season-opening match between the Lions and Geelong at the Gabba, as well as Saturday afternoon's match between the Suns and Essendon on the Gold Coast. In contrast, the NRL decided to move Friday night's Dolphins vs. Rabbitohs game from Brisbane's Lang Park to Sydney's Accor Stadium.
Nikorima's wife, Bree, expressed her strong dissatisfaction with the NRL's decision, writing in a now-deleted Instagram post: "Is a football game really that important? Leaving players' families to face the direct impact of a cyclone alone, with some having absolutely no support. I am six months pregnant with two young children, living in a flood-prone area, it's disgusting. The NRL should be doing better."
Neale stated in an interview with Fox Footy that he would choose to stay in Brisbane with his wife Jules and their children if the AFL attempted to move the game to another state. "I wouldn't go," Neale said. "I'd be staying here with Jules and the kids. Unless they were happy to fly the families down as well, but I'm not sure they'd be able to organize that in such short notice. If they were able to get the families out and we could sort the dog out, then I'd be happy to go. But I wouldn't be leaving Jules here with our three-year-old daughter and an 11-week-old son." Neale added that he was relieved the game had been postponed.
