NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has conceded that it’s almost inevitable that the sport will face hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2022 season.
Speaking on 2GB radio, Abdo said that any player who tested positive would have to isolate and miss the game, regardless of the occasion – but dismissed the idea of forfeits being a realistic worry.
“If we test regularly, and I’m talking about testing potentially every day and certainly ahead of any group training or matchday environment, that means that you’re getting a person who unfortunately may be positive before they have any interaction with fellow players.
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“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,” Abdo said.
“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 said the number of unvaccinated players and officials were ‘a few small handful’, right 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.”
There was a timely reminder of the presence of the virus on Tuesday, when more than 30 players and staff will have to isolate and get tested, after a player returned a positive result during the weekend’s Emerging Blues camp.
Abdo said that group were currently subject to the state’s isolation laws, rather than the NRL’s policies.
“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.
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