Wayne Bennett backs NRL's decision to go ahead with Dolphins-Rabbitohs match

Wayne Bennett says the NRL has "done the right thing" by relocating the Rabbitohs' match against the Dolphins, as Brisbane prepares for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The NRL moved the Friday night fixture from Brisbane's Lang Park to Western Sydney Stadium instead of postponing the match.

The decision has been met with some resistance from the Dolphins camp.

Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls and Kenny Bromwich opted against flying out with the team to Sydney on Wednesday evening.

The trio were concerned about the welfare of family members being left behind.

Alfred is expected to hit between Maroochydore and Coolangatta in south-east Queensland on Friday afternoon.

Dolphins players stay home due to cyclone Photo shows Composite image of Kodi Nikorima (left) and Mark Nicholls. Dolphins NRL players Kodi Nikorima and Mark Nicholls withdraw from the round-one match with South Sydney, as Cyclone Alfred makes a beeline for the southern Queensland coast.

About 20,000 properties in the Brisbane area face flooding, while evacuation centres have been established in northern NSW.

Nikorima's wife Bree labelled the NRL's move to leave families behind during a cyclone for a game of football "disgusting" in a now-deleted story on Instagram.

Former Dolphins coach Bennett, now with the Rabbitohs, refused to comment on the decision of his ex-players but remained bullish about the NRL's relocation choice.

"That's a [Dolphins] issue. It's not one that we have," Bennett said on Thursday.

"They've (the NRL) done the right thing.

"It's important to everyone involved in the game: the fans, the TV stations, all the people that support the game."

The round-17 clash between the clubs will now be a Dolphins' home match in Brisbane.

The AFL chose to call off its Opening-Round fixtures in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, ruling out relocating the matches initially scheduled for Thursday and Saturday night.

Brisbane Roar's A-League Women's match with Melbourne City, scheduled for Sunday at Brisbane's Perry Park, has also been postponed.

AAP

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