The move comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise in NSW, the state recording 77 positive tests on Sunday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed her concern about the deteriorating situation at her daily press conference, tipping the number could rise to more than 100 on Monday.

With the NRL requiring state government exemptions to continue operating, the Australian Rugby League Commission made the decision to relocate 12 teams to South-East Queensland to ensure it continues in the coming weeks.

Despite being based outside the Greater Sydney region currently in lockdown, the Raiders and Knights will also shift north.

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The teams will be moved by Wednesday, the same day as the hastily relocated third State of Origin clash. The game was moved from Newcastle to the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The Storm will remain in Melbourne, with the three Queensland clubs to stay at their home bases.

The venue for St George Illawarra's clash with Manly on Friday night will be announced during the week.

The 12 clubs will be spread between Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

The teams will spend at least four weeks in Queensland, with the NRL prepared to extend the length of the stay should the Greater Sydney lockdown continue.

ARLC chair Peter V'landys said the league had to respond to the rising case numbers.

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"The Commission has conducted an extensive risk assessment and it is clear from the current data trends that the risk to the competition is too great to continue playing in NSW right now," V'landys said.

"We are seeing close and casual contacts with links to our game on an almost daily basis.

"These are very difficult decisions. I feel for the players who have to leave their homes for a period.

"We will not keep players in Queensland any longer than they need to be. We hope it is only for a month, but if it needs to be longer, it will be. We're doing this to protect their livelihoods."

Teams will be able to take 30 players and 11 staff, with the NRL to also facilitate the relocation of their families.

Those who travel north will be required to isolate for 14 days, with restrictions following that period to be confirmed at a later date.

The decision to relocate the competition to Queensland reflects the AFL's move north in 2020 during Victoria's second wave.

The NRL's shift comes in the wake of four biosecurity breaches in the past month, the most serious being the illegal party at Paul Vaughan's house last Saturday.

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The gathering saw Vaughan lose his job and 12 of his Dragons teammates suspended for one match.

The issue is still to be resolved, with head office requesting the 12 remaining players sign a statement confirming there were no others at the event.

Ten of the 12 have signed, with the Sydney Morning Herald revealing Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro are the two yet to put pen to paper.

The NRL has prevented the players from returning to training until the documents are signed.

"We have, I believe 10 players who have completed that process," NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said on Fox League.

"We may or may not get the remaining two players to sign or not.

"Those that have (signed) will be permitted ... to rejoin the Dragons bubble and in all likelihood move in Wednesday with the rest of the team."

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