NRL 2021: Raiders star George Williams stuck in Melbourne quarantine nightmare
Canberra halfback George Williams has been embroiled in a COVID quarantine nightmare, with the English star detailing the hellish experience via a phone call.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Canberra Raiders star George Williams is stranded in quarantine in a Melbourne hotel after a late change to COVID-19 biosecurity laws forced the English halfback into self-isolation.
Williams travelled to Bateman’s Bay on the New South Wales south coast from December 28th to 30th before heading to Melbourne on January 4th from Canberra for what was supposed to be a two-day trip with his girlfriend.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
But on arrival in Victoria, Williams was served with a Detention Notice for arriving from an interstate hot or red zone and will have to complete two weeks in quarantine.
“It’s a strange one at the moment. We didn’t prepare for this and we’re just in shock at the moment,” Williams said on Summer Afternoons with Chris Warren on SEN 1170.
“We got advised at the Canberra airport that where we’d been wasn’t a red zone or a hot zone or whatever you want to call it, hopped on a flight for two days in Melbourne and it’s turned into 14 days in quarantine.
“It’s not just me in this situation, there’s probably 20 others who were on the same flight.
“We’re all in shock, confused and asking for a few answers.
“There’s other people with children, it’s a bad situation.”
Williams took to social media to hit out on the change in policy and the conditions at the Mercure Welcome, where he’ll spend the next two weeks before being permitted to return to the nation’s capital.
“It’s very average but we don’t mind that. It’s more that we can’t get any fresh air, the windows don’t open,” Williams said.
“It’s not ideal, we’ve all applied for exemptions and answers from the government at the moment, which we’re all waiting on.
“I support the process of quarantine, I want to keep Victoria, ACT, the whole country safe but we feel like we followed all the regulations needed and at the moment we’re just on the wrong side of it.”
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was expecting Williams back at training on Thursday but now faces the possibility of his star halfback missing two weeks of pre-season.
“When I rang him he was as shocked as me, he wasn’t too happy cause it means I’ll miss training but he knows it wasn’t my fault, it changed when we were in the air,” Williams said.
“It’s a work in progress.
“I’m not allowed to leave my room, but I spoke to the hotel last night and we’re looking at getting me an exercise bike or a treadmill or something just to pass the time while I’m here.
“If it means I’m here for the long run I’ll have to work even harder with the club and the hotel and try and get a bit more in the room.”
Originally published as NRL 2021: Raiders star George Williams stuck in Melbourne quarantine nightmare
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.