Just hours after Canberra Region Rugby League called off its junior season, a similar announcement followed regarding all senior competitions.
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The CRRL's decision to cancel the remainder of the season was driven in large part by today's extension of the ACT lockdown until September 17.
Though the regular season was called off on Thursday, August 19, hope still remained for the finals to take place in some form had the lockdown ended as scheduled on September 2.
But the lockdown extension was the final nail in the coffin for the 2021 season, and CRRL general manager, Mark Vergano, said the league had run out of options.
"Whilst the CRRL explored every avenue in an attempt to hold a finals series after the premature end to the regular season, there are still active cases in the community of the Delta variant and we all have a duty of care to our players, volunteers and staff to keep them safe," Vergano said.
"The CRRL and the clubs understand this will be of a great disappointment to all the senior players, however there is a social responsibility and a duty of care to ensure that all our great rugby league players and supporters are safe and supportive of the community's and governments' attempts, on both sides of the border, to lessen potential virus exposure for everyone."
The CRRL committee stated its intent to make a decision regarding premierships shortly.
A premature end to the season is particularly dispiriting news for the Goulburn City Bulldogs, who had three teams qualify for finals.
The Under 19s, League Tag, and Katrina Fanning Shield teams, Bulldogs head co-coach Tyson Greenwood said, all had "more than reasonable" premiership chances.
"Although the decision doesn't affect First Grade or Reserve Grade, our seasons were already done, it's very disappointing for the 19s, League Tag, and the Ladies Tackle," Greenwood said.
"The 19s and the Ladies Tackle have already been declared Minor Premiers, and hopefully they get merit premierships for their efforts this year, but that's up to the CRRL."
To finish the season without a chance to play finals is a bitter pill to swallow, but Greenwood was pleased regardless with the progress made by the Bulldogs in their first year back after being on the brink of collapse in 2020.
"It's very good to see such a rewarding season," Greenwood said.
"The three teams that qualified for semis have been very strong all season, and Reserve Grade was good as well in parts of the year and First Grade was in touch with the top four all season.
"COVID's one of those things, you can't control it and it's taken a turn for the worse in terms of its impact on sport and the community."
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