NRL cracks down amid Covid surge
MELBOURNE: The NRL yesterday ordered teams to adopt tighter biosecurity protocols following a surge of Covid19 infections in the country’s southeast.
The announcement came as Victoria reported 270 new cases and neighbouring New South Wales ramped up social-distancing restrictions amid a cluster of infections linked to a bar in western Sydney.
The 12 teams based in NSW, including the Warriors, and the Australian Capital Territory would revert back to the strict ‘‘bubble’’ conditions the league enforced when it resumed on May 28, the NRL said.
That will mean players and staff will no longer be allowed to visit cafes, restaurants, pubs, beaches and golf courses, while restrictions on home visitors also return.
‘‘We won’t take any risks with our players and the community,’’ league boss Peter V’landys said.
‘‘All our decisions are based on the data and we’ve said from the start, if the data changes then we will be proactive and take the necessary action required.’’
Four teams based in northeastern Queensland, including the Melbourne Storm which relocated north from Victoria, will remain under current restrictions.
Queensland reported one new case of Covid19 from a returned traveller at a quarantine hotel on Monday and none yesterday.
The NRL had plans to base all of the league’s 16 teams in Queensland if required, Australian media reported yesterday.
Meanwhile, Kiwis forward Adam Blair is the latest Warriors star reportedly set to be let go by the club at the end of the season due to his affiliation with controversial agent Isaac Moses.
The departure of fellow teammates Blake Green and Gerard Beale has already been announced by club owner Mark Robinson and Blair the latest in Moses’ roster to be singled out.
Sydney Morning Herald reporter Michael Chammas told Nine News Blair has been asked to either leave the club at the end of this season, or retire from the sport.
‘‘The Warriors have had a friendly conversation with Adam Blair,’’ Chammas said.
‘‘He has an option in his favour next year, but I think the club would be quite receptive to any decision by Adam Blair to retire at the end of the season or move on.
‘‘I think there is a common denominator as well, but the coach and the players mentioned are all managed by the same person . . . they’ve all been given the tap on the shoulder.’’
Moses, who had his NRL accreditation cancelled in June, represents some of league’s biggest names including If Blair does confirm he is leaving the club, the only client of Moses remaining would be interim Warriors coach Todd Payten, whose own future is far from secure as he manages a side with just three wins to show from a trying NRL season. — Reuters/The New Zealand Herald