The NRL will be able to return to 50 per cent crowds in Queensland from next weekend after the week-long lockdown in the southeast of the state was lifted.
After being plunged into empty stadiums for the past week, NRL officials breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday with news the lockdown would end.
Still footing the massive bill for moving the entire game to Queensland, the sport had missed out on gate takings for several high-profile clashes.
Saturday's double-header at Suncorp Stadium for instance was likely to have drawn a massive crowd, with Melbourne, Manly, Penrith and Sydney Roosters all featuring.
Next week's fixture includes the Storm playing on Thursday night, Brisbane hosting the Roosters and a crucial game between Manly and Parramatta that should also attract fans.
The league is also likely to have the freedom to take games to regional centres again, a plan they had begun to enact last weekend before the lockdown.
The news will also come as a relief to teams inside the hub.
While strict bubble conditions are likely to remain, the limit on bubble members attending matches and regular COVID-19 testing will be eliminated.
It should also open up some freedoms around training times and logistics, with team schedules for the next day up in the air during some nights last week.
