The news comes after it emerged that Tamworth could be in line to host an NRL game before the August 21 clash - with the NRL investigating if regional venues can host games from round 17 because of the pandemic.

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Rod Laing, the chief executive of Scully Park operator the Wests Entertainment Group, said he had not been contacted about the possibility of hosting an extra NRL game this year.

"But rest assured, they know that we're always in the mix [to stage one]," he said.

Laing said he last week requested an exemption in order to increase the crowd capacity for the Tigers-Sharks clash.

Under the request - made before the current surge in COVID cases and resulting nationwide lockdowns - WEG wants the general admission capacity increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.

The general admission capacity applies to the hill area at Scully Park, while the seated capacity for the game is 100 per cent.

Laing said the contest "could be cancelled from our end if we can't get the exemption from restrictions", and staged at the Tigers' home ground, Leichhardt Oval.

"So, if there's only a small crowd there, it would place that game, as far as covering costs [is concerned], at a great risk," he said.

Laing said the contract with Wests Tigers was signed after "it was put to us that COVID would be a thing of the past by the time August comes around - and that's clearly not the case".

He said other regional centres awarded NRL games this year, including Bathurst and Mudgee, had received an exemption to boost crowd capacity.

"So if you're a betting man, you'd think, 'Yeah, everyone else has got it, Tamworth should get it," he added. "However, things have changed right now."

NSW Health, he continued, would rule on WEG's exemption request.

With 13 of the 16 NRL clubs based in lockdown zones, the ARL Commission discussed on Tuesday relocating games to the bush so crowds can attend.

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