The NRL will test players in COVID-19 hotspots every three days, amid speculation the Queensland-based sides will need to be relocated to New South Wales in order to keep the competition running.
South-west Sydney has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in the last week, with around 40 cases now linked to an outbreak at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula.
Earlier this week the Queensland government banned anyone who lives in, or has recently visited Campbelltown or Liverpool, from entering the state.
Nine News reporter Danny Weidler revealed the change of policy regarding hotspot testing, and said NRL boss Peter V'landys has been in talks with Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in an urgent attempt to find a resolution to the escalating crisis.
"This is part of an attempt to keep the competition going in its current state," Weidler said.
"There's a need to sort this out urgently given Brisbane plays the Wests Tigers tomorrow night."
Weidler also confirmed there's been talk about placing Queensland teams in hotel quarantine when they return to their home state, which wouldn't be well received by players or their families.
https://twitter.com/Danny_Weidler/status/1283577691216605184?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwThe Tigers have already sent two players and a member of their coaching staff for COVID-19 tests, with winger David Nofoaluma, prop Josh Aloiai, and assistant coach Brett Hodgson all being tested.
"We're following protocols by sending them straight for testing," Tigers coach Michael Maguire said.
"I'm sure those things will continue to happen over the next period of time.
"We understand that's going to happen at the moment and we will be diligent about making sure the game is safe, everyone is safe and when we heard they needed to go do that, they jumped in the car and were straight off for a test."
Should the Queensland government implement tighter border restrictions that prevent movement between the states, Weidler said the NRL's fallback position is to move the entire competition to New South Wales.
"That's been the NRL's preferred option, rather than taking the competition to Queensland," he said.
"Moving the Queensland teams to Sydney involves less disruption and less cost."
The Round 12 match between the Tigers and the Warriors, currently set down for Campbelltown Stadium, could also be moved to a different venue.
On Tuesday the NRL announced all non-Queensland based teams would revert back to the original Project Apollo biosecurity protocols, due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Sydney.
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/covid19-tests-every-three-days-for-nrl-players-in-hotspots/c1fe2cd2-e543-4976-baa7-8400bb72752b
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