NRL 2022: Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona back at training
Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been welcomed back to the Melbourne fold although it is understood that he is yet to receive the jab.
NRL
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Melbourne sought assurances that Nelson Asofa-Solomona remained committed to the club and would be available for the entire season before he was welcomed back into the fold on Thursday morning by stunned teammates.
Storm officials were tight-lipped on Asofa-Solomona’s vaccination status after his off-season standoff with the club was finally resolved, although it is understood that he is yet to receive the jab. There is some suggestion the prop was recently infected but that is not confirmed.
It is believed he secured an initial six-month medical exemption and Storm officials are confident it will be extended, even if he remains unvaccinated.
The latest guidance from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) states exemptions for people who have had Covid are only valid for a maximum of four months after the infection.
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Under Victoria’s vaccination rules, professional sportspeople must provide evidence to their employer that they have been jabbed in order to work outside their home, unless they have an exemption.
People with a PCR test confirming they have had Covid can gain the temporary medical exemption to work up to four months after the infection, ATAGI guidance states.
But then they must either get vaccinated or stop working.
Asofa-Solomona hasn’t been sighted at the Storm since the end of last season.
He was frozen out of AAMI Park after refusing to have the jab, leaving him unable to attend the venue due to public health orders.
Storm players and officials tried and failed to contact Asofa-Solomona for months. The only communication between the New Zealand international and the club was through his lawyer.
At one point, it appeared he would turn his back on his lucrative contract with the Storm to take up an offer to play rugby union overseas.
However, it is understood the parties reached a breakthrough this week after discussions between Asofa-Solomona’s camp, the Storm and representatives of Project Apollo, the group formed by the NRL to lead the game through the Covid crisis.
His return was then confirmed following a meeting with coach Craig Bellamy and head of football Frank Ponissi, who wanted to see some tangible evidence that Asofa-Solomona was committed to the club.
Even his teammates were kept in the dark. They only discovered that Asofa-Solomona was ready to return when he turned up at AAMI Park on Thursday morning for training.
Hooker Brandon Smith seized on the moment to announce his teammate’s comeback to the world, posting a picture on social media of Asofa-Solomona speaking to security at the entrance to the ground with Eminem’s Without Me playing in the background.
“Pretty nervous to come back but really happy to be back with the boys,” Asofa-Solomona said.
“I think I was more nervous about what I was in for. I knew the Storm wasn’t going to take it easy on me.”
How NRL plans to ease tension over Covid protocols
By Brent Read, David Riccio and Michael Carayannis
The NRL has held showdown talks with players over its Covid protocol plans as some of the game’s biggest names held discussions with ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.
News Corp understands that RLPA chief executive Clint Newton and senior members of the players union are ready to vent their frustration at the prospect of another season of heightened protocols, having already endured two years of heavy restrictions.
The players believe the NRL should adopt a set of commonsense Covid “recommendations” for them to follow as opposed to being held accountable to their current bubble-like restrictions.
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They also harbour concerns over the amount of consultation heading into 2022, which is shaping as a crucial one for the game as head office looks to hold pay talks with the players over the salary cap for 2023 and beyond.
While there is an understanding that the competition needs to be protected from Covid, there is also a view among some of the game’s senior players that the protocols could be more reflective of community standards.
V’landys is ready to personally intervene in an attempt to alleviate some of the concerns. The NRL is on high alert as Covid has already ripped through most of the 16 clubs, tormenting players and officials throughout the off-season.
Every club has been affected and the vast majority of players in Sydney — more than 80 per cent — have already contracted the virus. That infection rate has been mirrored interstate.
The concern for the NRL is that it will impact on the season once it begins, jeopardising its ability to honour its broadcasting agreements with Foxtel and the Nine Network.
With that in mind, the NRL has begun putting a plan in place that would see charter flights for every NRL team instead of a bubble.
Abdo has confirmed the game is considering the return of charter flights and says it has the financial capacity to cover the multimillion-dollar cost of private transport for every player and coaching staff member.
Flying teams in and out on the same day of matches worked efficiently and with positive feedback from clubs during the Covid-impacted 2020 season. The operation wasn’t required last year due to the relocation of the entire competition to Queensland.
Abdo raised the prospect of bringing back charter flights to start the new season with all 16 club CEO’s last month.
He said the ARL Commission would have the final say, but said the code would be making decisions this year based on “logic”.
“That decision hasn’t been made yet — it’s just the logic,’’ Abdo said.
“We’ve got to consider everything. We don’t want to put everyone in a bubble and we had good financial results last year and have put aside a Covid budget for this reason.’’
During the 2020 season, in a bid to decrease the threat of spreading infection, the same charter plane was used for all teams.
Prior to Covid-19, teams with travelling parties of up to 30, including players and coaching staff, would travel on a commercial airline and spend at a minimum both the night before and after their game, at a hotel.
Under the charter flight system, teams arrive four hours before kick-off and depart two hours after they have played.
The return of charter flights is just one measure the NRL is looking to implement in order to avoid the collapse of the competition due to Covid.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal unvaccinated players have been banned from having guests at their homes or visit another household and must seek an exemption to attend a wedding or funeral.
The NRL has again tinkered with its protocols separating those players who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated players now sit in Apollo B register and are under tighter restrictions.
Clubs must have separate bathrooms and eating areas for vaccinated and unvaccinated players.
Players who have yet to be jabbed are being told they must wear a mask at all times – even outdoors, unless they are exercising, eating or drinking.
They must continue to complete a daily NRL wellness check and to access training and match days they must undergo and return negative rapid tests twice a day.
The first one is to occur when they enter training and six hours after leaving the venue.
They cannot use the club’s indoor gym and can only meet with members of their own household outdoors for recreational purposes.
Apollo A register – the vaccinated players – are under much looser restrictions.
They need to undergo a rapid test each day and are banned from bars, nightclubs, cinemas and bowling alleys.
They can eat outdoors at restaurants and cafes and have been asked – not told – to limit having 10 guests a day at their house.
SULLIVAN TO JOIN COMMISSION
By Brent Read, David Riccio
Former judiciary chairman Alan Sullivan QC is poised to join the ARL Commission.
The nominations committee rubber-stamped Sullivan’s appointment on Wednesday and he will formally be appointed to the commission next week.
Sullivan has long-standing links to rugby league — he was the chairman of the NSW Rugby League judiciary and subsequently the Australian Rugby League judiciary in the 1990s.
He has also been a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and was involved in Sydney’s bid for the 2000 Olympic Games.
He retains close ties to the game through his involvement with the Men of League Foundation. More recently, he represented the NRL and ARL Commission in their Federal Court battle with St George Illawarra star Jack de Belin.
Club chairs were informed of Sullivan’s impending appointment on Wednesday afternoon.
“Just a short note to advise you that the nominations committee met tonight and unanimously agreed to recommend the appointment of Alan Sullivan QC to the commission,” ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys wrote in an email.
“In looking at the skill matrix of the Commission and the game’s future challenges and ambitions it was felt that the Commission would greatly benefit (from) having an eminent legal mind on the Board.
“After considering who would be best for the role it was felt it would be a coup if we could procure Alan Sullivan QC.
“Not only is Alan one of the top legal practitioners in Australia but he also has immense corporate knowledge representing the ARLC over many years.
“Alan has also represented many other sports.”
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