Full credit needs to be given to the Queensland government for kicking that trend and doing a Peter V'landys by "looking at the data".

They've realised Canberra hasn't had a COVID-19 case for more than a year and set their border restrictions accordingly.

In the modern vernacular, they've set the ACT as a green zone. And so they should.

It means the Raiders players' wives, partners and families should be able to move around in Queensland as they please - given that's exactly what all Canberrans who head north to the land of the Cane Toad can currently do.

It's why Saturday Serve has made Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk an honorary Canberran and sent her the Raiders membership package she now so proudly wears in National Cabinet meetings.

Yeah sure, Canberra's surrounded by NSW and the coronavirus could sneak in at any moment.

And I could get hit by a bus when I cross the street. That doesn't mean I'm going to lock myself in my house on the off chance it happens.

Alas, the great minds of the South Australian and Victorian governments haven't taken the Queensland approach.

Instead, they've gone for the lazy option and lumped Canberrans in with NSW.

As ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry diplomatically told The Canberra Times those decisions were unfair on the good people living in the capital.

And it was Victoria's decision to make the ACT a dreaded red zone - despite not having a coronavirus case for more than a year - that forced the NRL's hand to send the Canberra Raiders to the Banana State for at least the next month. And potentially the rest of the season.

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There were concerns the Victorians wouldn't let the COVID-free Green Machine into Mexico for their round 22 clash against the Melbourne Storm on August 12.

Sadly, and ironically, the Storm have since been forced to flee Melbourne to Queensland themselves and, as revealed by The Canberra Times, will play a double header with the Raiders on the Gold Coast.

The Raiders had hoped they might be able to come home before the designated four-week period was up, given Canberra's had no cases in more than a year, but the feeling now was the fact the Storm had to fly north made that highly unlikely.

While you feel for the Victorian people as they go into their fifth lockdown, it's hard to feel much sympathy for their government.

PVL's data would've told them there was far greater risk letting Sydney removalists into their state than anyone from Canberra. Zero cases for more than a year and all that.

It was also the Victorian government's decision to paint the ACT red that kiboshed Manuka Oval's chances of hosting the AFL derby between the GWS Giants and the Sydney Swans on Sunday.

Instead it was pencilled in for Ballarat - until the lockdown struck.

Now, with even more irony, it will be played on the Gold Coast where the Raiders players' families will be free to attend.

Meanwhile, Manuka Oval will lie dormant. Despite Canberra still not having any COVID-19 cases for more than a year.

It's even looking unlikely the Giants-Port Adelaide game - set to be played at Manuka on August 1 - will go ahead as planned.

South Australia's decision to close their borders to Canberra (despite having zero cases) has thrown a massive spanner in the works - given Port are still currently based in Adelaide. Even though Port were still due to play St Kilda at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Saturday night.

These lazy government decisions to label the ACT a red zone has bigger ramifications than just being able to go to a game of football.

There are Canberrans who rely on working at those venues to help pay their bills. Everyone from the security guards to the people selling deep-fried delicacies in the food outlets.

Now they won't be working in the foreseeable future - despite there being zero cases of the coronavirus in Canberra for more than a year.

NRL ROUND 18

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at the Gold Coast, 3pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Xavier Savage, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Emre Guler, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Hudson Young, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Joseph Tapine, 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Ryan James. Reserves: 18. Matthew Timoko, 19. Trey Mooney, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Harley Smith-Shields.

Sharks squad: 1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Connor Tracey, 4. Jesse Ramien, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Aaron Woods, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Toby Rudolf. Interchange: 14. Mawene Hiroti, 15. Siosifa Talakai, 16. Jack Williams, 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele. Reserves: 18. Billy Magoulias, 19. Royce Hunt, 20. Andrew Fifita, 21. Luke Metcalf.

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