The Prime Minister has effectively put the kibosh on any NRL bid to host its grand final in Auckland.
Jacinda Ardern said the Australian league competition would not be given special quarantine exemptions allowing the game to bypass Covid travel restrictions.
The NRL's all-powerful boss Peter V'landys fears the October 3 grand final will be badly devalued if it is played at an empty stadium, because of the Aussie Covid lockdown.
He touted Auckland as a potential venue, telling The Australian: "We are keeping all our options open because our number one priority is to have crowds."
The Wallabies are playing rugby tests in New Zealand, but Ardern said their situation was different to the NRL grand final.