Blues stars caught up in Covid scare
NATHAN Cleary and Tom Trbojevic are among 30 players and 10 officials forced into isolation following two positive Covid-19 cases recorded at the Emerging Blues camp at Olympic Park at the weekend.
Melbourne’s Jonah Pezet was reportedly one of the players who tested positive and the other was a female player.
Penrith grand final hero Cleary, Dally M Medallist Trbojevic and former NSW
captain Boyd Cordner all spoke to the players after training on Saturday night.
Other Blues officials inside the meeting room included adviser Greg Alexander, assistant coaches Danny Buderus and Paul McGregor, along with fellow officials Mark O’Meley and Andrew Ryan.
Some of the players at the camp now in isolation include St George Illawarra’s Junior Amone, Tyrell Sloan and Jayden Sullivan; Sydney Roosters’ Joseph Suaalii and Egan Butcher; Parramatta’s Will Penisini; and Manly’s Haumole
Olakau’atu and Jason Saab.
Members of the women’s Sky Blues and under-19s squads who attended training on the Sunday were originally only considered casual contacts because Pezet trained with the emerging group on Saturday and attended a Blues function on Saturday night, but returned home to Melbourne on the Sunday, avoiding any contact with the women’s players.
But the NSWRL has since confirmed one of the female players has tested positive,
meaning their squads may also need to isolate.
“The NSWRL was advised late yesterday of a positive Covid-19 test following a high performance camp at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on the weekend of 11-12 December,” an NSWRL spokesperson said. “The test occurred after the camp had concluded.
“The NSWRL has subsequently been advised of a positive test by a women’s player who also attended the camp.
“The NSWRL is adhering to the strict health and biosecurity protocols from the NRL’s Project Apollo, which includes self-isolating and undergoing Covid-19 tests, in order to ensure safety for players, staff, officials and the wider community.”
Both Cleary and Trbojevic attended the Emerging Blues camp at the request of NSW coach Brad Fittler, who couldn’t attend because he was already in isolation after a Covid scare during his charity bike ride around NSW.
The NRL instructed the players to go into isolation.