NRL players face ban for not signing new waiver

Sydney: Gorden Tallis says he’d be disappointed by Bryce Cartwright’s decision to refuse a flu shot if he were a Gold Coast teammate, claiming the NRL star’s stance could derail the game.

Cartwright was arguably the most outspoken player who rejected a vaccination which was part of the strict biosecurity measures that helped allow the NRL competition to resume on May 28 from a coronavirus shutdown.

It is believed a total of about 20 players across the NRL rejected a jab, prompting the ARL Commission to revise a vaccination waiver clause yesterday that allowed those who refused a shot to keep playing.

However, ARLC chairman, Peter V’landys, warns any player who does not sign the altered waiver will be banned. While Titans Dale Copley and Nathan Peats have publicly backed Cartwright this week, Tallis - who has worked as a Gold Coast volunteer consultant - said he wouldn’t be impressed with the antivaxx stance if he was a teammate.

“Publicly they are going to back him because everyone is entitled to do what they want.”

“But privately, I would be really disappointed because the game could be derailed so easily.

“It would safeguard your family and team by going and getting a flu shot (that is) getting hand delivered to them.