Rugby league legend Darren Lockyer has floated the possibility of COVID-19 “bubbles” returning to ensure the safety of the game.
The bubbles were first introduced in 2020 when the global pandemic brought professional sport in Australia to a standstill.
Essentially they limit the number of people players and staff can interact with, therefor limiting the possibility of contracting the virus and being forced into isolation protocols.
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The bubbles were abandoned this year as the pandemic eased, but the issue has come to the fore again after Queensland lost Cameron Munster and Murray Taulagi to positive COVID-19 tests ahead of the State of Origin decider.
Lockyer saw vision of Origin players interacting with fans during camp leading up to the game, and questioned whether bubbles should be brought back in to ensure the NRL season is completed.
“I guess, where does it end with COVID?” Lockyer asked Nine’s Sports Sunday.
“In hindsight, should they have gone to Warwick and mingled with the public? I don’t know.
“If this had happened in game one I think there would have been a bubble for games two and three, because on the biggest stage you want the best players playing.
“It’s probably a bit of a lesson learned for the NRL. Maybe they were complacent, and maybe it’s an insight into what they do with the finals this year.”
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