NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has conceded that the game will have to tighten its biosecurity measures with the game set to face a number of Covid-related obstacles throughout the 2022.
Abdo told 2GB radio that players who test positive to Covid-19 must isolate and miss however many games necessary, regardless of the occasion, next season.
However Abdo was confident that teams will not have to forfeit.
“If we test regularly, and I’m talking about testing potentially every day and certainly ahead of any group training or match day environment, that means that you’re getting a person who unfortunately may be positive before they have any interaction with fellow players,” he said
“That obviously will go a long way to helping with the integrity of the competition and the preparation for, and the playing of matches.
“The key here is early detection.
“If you do have a positive, that positive is identified prior to a player or an official entering into a group environment… we’re going to invest heavily in rapid testing, early detection and screening, we’re going to have biosecurity liaison officers at each of the clubs.”
Abdo additionally revealed that the number of unvaccinated players and officials within the competition has gone down to single digits.
“I’m very confident that we’re going to be talking here about almost everyone — and if we do need to take stronger measures for those who are unvaccinated for a season — then we’ll do that as well.”
Abdo’s comments come after 70-plus players and staff were forced into isolation and after a player tested positive at the Emerging Blues camp last weekend.
Abdo confirmed that the group exposed on the weekend are currently abiding by the state government’s isolation policy, instead of the NRL’s.
“Once we’re in-season and we get into the formal pre-season in the new year, we’ll have a different set of protocols working,” Abdo said.
While the NRL’s position against mandating vaccinations hasn’t changed, the recent events of a Tigers trainer testing positive, the Knights all being sent home from training amid a close contact and the Emerging blues camp cases will test the governing body’s stance.
