No headphones, NRL players told

The biggest obstacle facing some National Rugby League players in their return to play following a coronavirus shutdown isn’t how they perform on the field, but whether they can pass an often inconsistent eartemperature check on game day.

And players’ earphones and headsets may be part of the problem.

When the NRL returned without fans last weekend, league officials said players would have to undergo up to three temperature checks on the day of a game.

Last Thursday, Roosters fullback James Tedesco became the first player to miss a game under the NRL’s new health protocols in the coronavirus pandemic because he woke up with a high temperature.

Tedesco failed a test that prohibits anyone with a temperature above 37.2degC from entering a stadium on game day or for practice.

He was ruled out of the Sydney Roosters’ lineup, but he wasn’t really missed in his side’s 59-0 win over the Broncos in Brisbane.

Brisbane halfback Brodie Croft had two high readings before the first NRL comeback match last Thursday against Parramatta, but he eventually passed another temperature check and was allowed to play.

It was more of the same last weekend. Six Cronulla players arrived at the ground on Saturday night and gave temperature readings over the 37.2degC cutoff.

All six were eventually allowed into the stadium at Townsville after a second examination 15 minutes after their initial test, with suggestions a different machine was used for the second test.

NRL teams carry 20 players on game day, giving coaches some flexibility should a player check in over the temperature threshold before the match.

Canterbury Bulldogs coach Dean Pay said his players have been urged to avoid the use of headphones on game-day in a bid to keep their temperatures down.

‘‘The headphones is a real issue that’s raised with us,’’ Pay said. ‘‘Last week when we were on the bus on the way up to Central Coast, we made sure our players took them off well in advance before they got to the ground.’’

On the other side of the scale, ABC’s Grandstand radio sports show on Sunday reported that an unnamed player came down with some sniffles on game day.

Concerned that he might not pass the fever check, but confident he was well enough to play and had no other Covid-19 symptoms, he stuffed a few small ice cubes into his ears on the bus on the way to the stadium.

He passed with flying colours.