Albury Thunder will play last two games after COVID forced forfeits

Of course, there's no guarantees living with COVID, but if circumstances don't change, the Border outfit will be able to host Tumut and Wagga Brothers respectively on August 14 and 22 respectively.

The Thunder was unable to travel to Wagga Kangaroos on Sunday, due to COVID restrictions.

Unlike earlier in the year, Wagga is now out of the border bubble after Sydney's outbreak around a month ago, which means any of the Thunder's Victorian-based players or employees would be forced to undergo a COVID test within 72 hours and be forced to isolate for 14 days.

Therefore, the club simply didn't have the numbers available to play the Roos.

The league's southern outpost has the bye next week, followed by the two home games.

"We will definitely be able to play those last two games, seeing as though they are at home," club president Rick O'Connell suggested.

"It's interesting when you speak to people from Wagga, they're more upset as to why they've now been excluded from the border bubble."

The Thunder was forced to forfeit four of its five grades against Gundagai last week - the League Tag team played a 14-all draw - again because the town is out of the border bubble.

The forfeit call was made with the understanding the remainder of the home and away season wouldn't be as impacted by COVID restrictions.

Group Nine is waiting on advice from NSW Rugby League on how to handle the latest COVID curveball.

"Consideration is given to broader impacts from COVID, like the border restrictions that are unfortunately currently unfolding in the Albury community at the moment," Group Nine chairperson Andrew Hinchcliffe offered.

Albury was asked to submit the impact of the current changes for each of their five grades.

One option for the Roos game was moving to a different local government area (LGA).

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The Thunder confirmed it could have fielded more teams if the Roos game was transferred within the current border bubble, but given the 130kms between Wagga and Albury is Australian Rules heartland, there's no suitable rugby league grounds available.

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