NRL Covid vaccine policy: CEO Andrew Abdo hits back at critics of vaccination stance
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has hit back at criticism of the game’s vaccination stance as the players union moves to avoid potential contract chaos with clubs.
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NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has hit back at claims the game has shown a lack of leadership by leaving clubs to decide whether to mandate vaccinations or terminate contracts of unvaccinated players.
Abdo’s strident defence of the NRL’s position came as the frustrated players union opened direct communication with club bosses amid warnings that the game could descend into contractual chaos.
The Rugby League Players Association has been in talks with the NRL over the new Apollo protocols but it is understood they have walked away frustrated and will now take their concerns to club chief executives in an attempt to set some uniform rules around the right to dock pay or terminate contracts of players who refuse the jab.
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The NRL is happy to leave the decision in the hands of individual clubs, prompting some to suggest that head office has taken the soft option.
“Leadership of the governing body or the CEO of the NRL, you have to accept the fact that people will constantly criticise anything you do,” Abdo said.
“People are entitled to their view and opinion. It is not unusual in the world of professional sport across the globe to adopt a policy that we are adopting, which is you are free to choose but there are restrictions in place to keep people safe and keep the competition going.
“The most important thing for us as a game in 2022 is going to be early detection to be able to keep playing. Even if the entire playing group was 100 per cent vaccinated, there are still going to be close contacts, casual contacts and infections.
“We are going to need to detect that earlier. That is a long way of answering a question that people are entitled to their opinion but numerous governments, public sector, private sector and sporting associations have adopted an approach like ours.”
Canterbury have already informed all players and officials they expect them to be double vaccinated before they return to training next week. It is understood at least two other clubs are considering mandating vaccination, which would leave unvaccinated players cut adrift.
The NRL’s reluctance to engage the RLPA on a uniform stance comes as it emerged the executive team at Rugby League Central as well as the game’s seven commissioners had all been vaccinated against Covid-19.
At the same time, a handful of players across the clubs are yet to be double jabbed.
Canterbury forward Luke Thompson and Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona are among those who are yet to be vaccinated, although it is understood both have indicated they will listen to advice and consider having the jab.
In the meantime, they will be forced to train on their own.
Manly have two players who are yet to be vaccinated.
It is understood one of those players is Dylan Walker, who publicly dressed down the NSW government earlier this year on social media after they demanded that players received the flu shot. It is believed Walker received a medical exemption on that occasion and is likely to seek to do the same rather than have the Covid vaccination.
Brisbane and Gold Coast are among the clubs with the least players vaccinated, although both are believed to be confident it is a case of apathy rather than players actively avoiding the shot.
The players union just wants to protect the rights of their players after the NRL released guidelines on Thursday that said the clubs would be free to mandate vaccinations and should be guided by their own legal advice when it comes to deciding on the contracts of unvaccinated players.
Privately, the players union and some club bosses are concerned about the ramifications of leaving the decision in the hands of individual clubs, as well as the implications that any contract terminations could have on the salary cap.
Their hope is that they can get the clubs to agree on a uniform policy for players who decline to be vaccinated.
Club sources confirmed RLPA chief executive Clint Newton had begun reaching out to organise meetings next week to try to eliminate inconsistencies in club handling of unvaccinated players.
Leaving the decision in the hands of individual clubs has opened a can of worms that could create havoc across the game. There is every chance that neighbouring clubs could have differing policies even though they are located in the same state.
A player could conceivably be sacked by one club and picked up by another almost immediately. The RLPA is asking for clarity around how that would impact the salary cap. So too the clubs.
The AFL deemed that clubs would be within their rights to terminate contracts of unvaccinated players by May next year. The NRL has left it to the clubs to make the call.
Storm star’s anti-vax stance leaves future clouded
- Michael Carayannis
Melbourne forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona has become the latest big-name player to hesitate over getting the Covid-19 vaccine.
It is understood the New Zealand international is the only Storm player yet to receive the jab and the club remains hopeful he will do so, although they acknowledge life could become difficult if things don’t change.
As it stands, athletes are not allowed to use the facilities at AAMI Park unless they have been double vaccinated. Asofa-Solomona will be locked out until either the health rules change or he is convinced to get vaccinated.
The Storm remain hopeful Asofa-Solomona will follow the lead of his teammates. However, his plight illustrates the inconsistencies across the NRL and explains why some clubs wanted the governing body to bring in uniform rules for everybody.
If Asofa-Solomona can’t play in Victoria next season, he may be forced to take a massive pay cut or terminate his deal. The latter would potentially free him to sign elsewhere - as it stands in Queensland, it is open slather.
The Storm have done well to have the vast majority of their squad vaccinated. Yet Asofa-Solomona would be a huge loss, particularly with Melbourne under siege from rivals as they head towards November 1, when clubs can make formal offers to players who are entering the final year of their deals.
NRL clubs handed vax mandate
- David Riccio and Brent Read
The NRL has given clubs the power to mandate vaccination — but has warned them against tearing up the contracts of unvaccinated players for at least another four weeks.
Clubs have also been told to designate separate eating and bathroom areas for players who are yet to receive two jabs as part of a raft of protocols implemented by the NRL for unvaccinated players.
A phone hook-up on Thursday between NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and all 16 club bosses outlined the NRL’s Apollo Protocols for the 2022 pre-season.
While the NRL has stopped short of making vaccination compulsory for players, the governing body sent a missive to club bosses that outlined the hurdles unvaccinated players must jump to be part of an NRL roster.
Clubs have been desperate for the NRL to take a position on how they are expected to continue to contract unvaccinated players when the expectation is that their training and ability to travel and play next year will be severely restricted.
More pressure was heaped on the NRL after the AFL made vaccination mandatory and News Corp revealed that some clubs had taken legal advice over their power to terminate the contracts of unvaccinated players.
Included within the two-page email from Abdo on Thursday was an acknowledgment and need from the NRL to address the possibility of clubs looking to sack unvaccinated players.
“It will be for the Club to determine the impact (if any) on the employee’s status in accordance with its own legal advice,’’ Abdo wrote.
“Clubs may contact the NRL for general assistance on this issue but will ultimately need to take their own legal advice concerning the position of their individual employees and their circumstances (including health order restrictions where the Club is located).
“We are expecting that health orders, including their impact on the unvaccinated, will undergo significant change over the coming weeks (from December 1) so Clubs will need to exercise caution in taking immediate steps concerning their Players.’’
The NRL has felt the heat for refusing to mandate vaccination but the governing body is confident that its intel and data from clubs will deliver a small number of unvaccinated players.
Brisbane and Gold Coast are the clubs with the most players yet to be double jabbed, although it is understood both are confident it is more a case of apathy and complacency rather than a wider reluctance to be vaccinated.
Abdo wrote that the NRL’s position wasn’t being forced upon clubs — and that they had the power, as individual clubs, to adopt a mandatory vaccination policy.
Canterbury became the first NRL club to insist that all players and staff be vaccinated when they sent an email to everyone in the organisation last month.
English forward Luke Thompson is yet to get the jab, although it is understood he has agreed to do so if need be.
“Each Club as the employer of its personnel may make its own decision on whether to mandate vaccination amongst its employees,’’ Abdo wrote.
“It is not a requirement that Clubs reflect the NRL’s position on vaccination, although any unvaccinated personnel wishing to access training and match-day for a Club must comply with the Apollo Protocols as they apply to them.’’
In the meantime, clubs will operate under two Apollo registers; ‘Register A’ with players and officials who have been fully-vaccinated against Covid-19. And a “Register B” for players and officials who have not been vaccinated, or awaiting a second dose.
Players under register B must wear a mask at all-times, must stay at home other than for essential tasks, undergo twice a week Covid-19 tests, daily rapid antigen testing and refrain from entering pubs, bars, restaurants or other social activities.
With several clubs commencing pre-season training next week, the NRL also explained explicitly that any unvaccinated player could face issues using the same facilities as vaccinated players.
“It is clear that those personnel who choose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will face significant logistical hurdles in 2022 and vaccination not only protects their health and that of those around them, but gives the best chance of an interruption-free 2022 season,’’ Abdo wrote.
Power play: Legal battles loom over clubs’ vax stance
NRL clubs are believed to have taken legal advice over their power to sack players who refuse to be vaccinated.
The prospect of the game returning to the courts has emerged as NRL squads prepare to return to pre-season training next week.
Players scheduled to return but not vaccinated will be locked out by some Sydney clubs under NSW health orders — with the likelihood that they will be supplied home training regimes.
Due to his reluctance to be vaccinated, it is understood Bulldogs forward Luke Thompson has requested a personalised program to train in isolation.
Thompson is likely to wait until December before making a final decision on whether he will receive the jab. However, it is understood he has indicated to Bulldogs officials that he is willing to be vaccinated if push comes to shove.
Under NSW health orders, if you are not fully-vaccinated you cannot visit a stadium, gym, or public swimming pool.
Highlighting the confusion within NRL clubland, is the fact that the Wests Tigers will resume pre-season training in a mixed environment of vaccinated and unvaccinated footballers because they are not based at a stadium or at a government facility.
The Tigers train out of St Luke’s Park — a private field in Concord.
The Bulldogs, Sharks and Dragons players must have received two jabs to train at their respective training facilities because they are housed within a stadium.
News Corp revealed at the weekend that a cohort of clubs were pushing for the power to sack players who declined to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
It is understood some have consulted legal experts and Wests Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis — speaking in his capacity as a lawyer rather than a club official — said they may have grounds to terminate the deals of players if they were unable to fulfil their contractual obligations.
“A side could have three games in Queensland, one in Victoria and one in New Zealand — that’s four or five games that they are ineligible to play in,” Hagipantelis said.
“It creates an enormous drama. There would be an argument available that if the employee — the player — is unable to meet their contract, then the employer — the club — would have to make a decision.
“There will be litigation coming. It’s not just the NRL. It’s across the sports.”
Meanwhile, club CEO’s are privately frustrated that RLPA boss Clint Newton waited until so close to the resumption of pre-season training to forward an email of suggested support yet failed to provide any clarity for how clubs manage players that aren’t willing to be vaccinated.
“The RLPA has proposed the collaborative development of a staged framework for reviewing situations where non-vaccinated players may be unable to commence pre-season training due to the impact of public health orders,‘’ the email reads.
“The idea of the staged framework would be that decisions are made as and when clarity is provided, particularly around public health orders.
“In the first instance, the process would consider those players unable to commence pre-season training, and would be designed to provide clubs with a standardised decision-making process which considers the immediate constraints on the non-vaccinated player.
“Given the changing nature of public health orders, the process would be designed to react to those changing orders and avoid the need for immediate, long-term decisions regarding non-vaccinated players.”
EARLY STARTERS
Vaccination status of NRL’s bottom eight clubs before they return for pre-season training.
SHARKS
No player, staff member or public will be allowed to enter Shark Park precinct, gym and offices without two vaccinations. Leaders on the vaccination front, the Sharks have one NRL player remaining who is yet to be vaccinated. The first wave of players back to training will be on November 4 with Franklin Pele and Rugby Sevens recruit Lachie Miller the only notable names. The likes of Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Luke Metcalf, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sione Katoa and Teig Wilton are back on November 8.
RAIDERS
Canberra is edging towards an 80 per cent vaccination rate with the club facing issues with two players who, to date, are unwilling to be vaccinated. The Raiders ability to commence pre-season training isn’t as stringent as their NSW-based rivals. Under ACT government health orders, the Raiders are permitted to train on the field and in their gym, with up to 25 people in each outdoor space or one person per four square metres. The first wave of NRL players back to training are Harley-Smith Shields, Xavier Savage, Matt Timoko, Trey Mooney and Sebastian Kris on November 8.
BULLDOGS
The Dogs have had a very small number of players question the need for vaccination. Known anti-vaxxer Luke Thompson is an ongoing discussion point for the club. Only days away from launching their 2022 campaign. Paul Vaughan is the biggest name to commence training on November 1, alongside rookies Paul Alamoti, Josh Cook, Bailey Biondi-Odo and new Storm recruit Max King. No player will be able to enter Belmore without two jabs.
DRAGONS
The likes Zac Lomax, Mika Ravalawa, Billy Burns, Jackson Ford, Cody Ramsey, Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and Junior Amone will all be back to work on November 3. No players, staff or administration are allowed to enter WIN Stadium without two vaccinations. The Dragons are working with one player who has been reluctant to receive the jab, on the basis of medical reasons.
WESTS TIGERS
The Wests Tigers have close to 90 per cent of their players vaccinated and they don’t expect any blowback from those who remain. The young players will return to training on November 3. Among their ranks will be Daine Laurie, Jake Simpkins, Adam Doueihi and Stefano Utoikamanu. The Tigers believe their vaccinated and unvaccinated players are free to train together because they use a private field and a private gym.
COWBOYS
North Queensland have close to 95 per cent of their squad vaccinated, the vast majority having their first jab not long after the season finished because their facilities are close to a vaccination hub. The first group of players are due to return to training on November 5. Among those due to return on that date are Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reuben Cotter, Tom Gilbert and Mitch Dunn. Players are free to return to training because the Cowboys train at a private facility and there are no restrictions in place.
BRONCOS
The Broncos still have up to 10 players who are yet to be vaccinated but the club is confident they will fall into line once they return to training. Most of the squad will return to training on November 9. Star recruits Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capwell have extra time off and are due at Red Hill on December 15. The Broncos train at a private facility and there are no restrictions in place for unvaccinated players.
WARRIORS
The Warriors have the vast majority of their squad vaccinated — less than five are yet to be double jabbed. The young players, including the likes of boom fullback Reece Walsh, are due to return to training on November 8. Warriors players are free to train at their temporary home at Redcliffe in Brisbane. The club will be relocated there for the 2022 season.
NRL anti-vaxxers’ unlikely ally in fight against clubs
- Brent Read
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has urged clubs to go easy on unvaccinated players as they prepare to return to training next week, insisting the game is a family and the last thing it needs is to be divided.
The first group of clubs will resume training on November 3 and the expectation is that at the very least unvaccinated players will be segregated from those who have had the jab.
It could be that unvaccinated players are kept away from training altogether and News Corp reported last week that some clubs are privately agitating for the right to sack players who decline to be vaccinated.
The NRL has refused to mandate vaccination and that won’t change according to V’landys, who also encouraged clubs to understand the views of those who were reluctant to get the jab.
“We want to keep all our rugby league family together,” V’landys said.
“We don’t want them to be split apart. We have to work together to find a solution. There is a lot of hysteria that goes on about this issue (but) a vaccinated person can also catch this disease and pass it on, just like an unvaccinated person.”
Asked whether he would be concerned if clubs tried to sack players who were not vaccinated, V’landys said: “It would concern me because it is a moving feast and we shouldn’t be divided on it. Some people have different views and we have to respect that.
“An unvaccinated player is at no more risk than a vaccinated player. The only risk is that he will get very, very sick. While a vaccinated player may not get very sick at all.”
It is understood the vaccination rate across the game has been strong, although some clubs still have work to do. Of those who return to training next week, it is believed only a handful of players in their ranks are yet to be vaccinated, including Canterbury’s English prop Luke Thompson.
Talks are ongoing between the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association over the way forward – they met again on Monday as they work towards finalising protocols for clubs to return to training next week.
The expectation is that revised protocols will be communicated with the clubs at some point in coming days – the RLPA is attempting to organise a meeting involving club chiefs before the end of the week to get their input.
“We had another meeting with the NRL today to further progress our conversations from the back end of last week,” RLPA chief executive Clint Newton said.
“There should be no reason why we are not mirroring other codes globally where the governing body and player representatives are working on establishing a framework and making sure there is consistency across all 16 clubs.”
Attention has fallen on the NRL in the wake of the AFL’s decision to mandate that all players and staff must be vaccinated by February next year.
Those who do not get vaccinated can have their contracts terminated if they reach an agreement with the club before May 18. After that date, the club has the right to terminate the players’ contract provided it is within the law.
Further attention was also placed on the issue on Monday when a leaked email suggested unvaccinated tennis players would be able to take part in the Australian Open in Victoria – there had been talk that unvaccinated players would be banned from competing.
The NRL has been happy to be guided by the policies of the state governments, creating the possibility that clubs could return to training under different rules depending on what state they are in.
Some clubs want the power to be able to take the most extreme action against the unvaccinated but their plea is likely to fall no deaf ears given the comments of V’landys.
Clubs want to sack anti-vaxxers
- Brent Read
A cohort of clubs are privately agitating for the right to sack players who refuse the jab as the NRL steps up talks with the players union over its vaccination policy.
Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton held talks with key NRL officials on Friday as they prepare to sign off on a policy that is set to be put before the ARL Commission next week.
The first group of players are due to return to training at some clubs on November 3, where it is expected that unvaccinated players will be segregated from those who have had the Covid-19 vaccine.
Public health orders in NSW render it all but impossible for vaccinated and unvaccinated players to train together. St George Illawarra, for example, share time between WIN Stadium and the University of Wollongong - it is understood that players must be vaccinated to attend both facilities.
While the vaccination rate has been solid across the game, there are a smatterings of players at clubs who have thus far refused to have the jab. Some clubs privately insist they should have the right to sack those players should they continue down that path.
The NRL, meanwhile, continues to insist that it will not mandate vaccination, a stance they are expected to enshrine in the game’s vaccination policy when it is signed off by the ARL Commission.
Given vaccination won’t be mandatory, it logically follows that clubs won’t automatically have the right to sack players who reject the jab. That won’t sit well with some clubs who believe they should be given the power to terminate contracts that can’t be fulfilled.
“It may be that they are unable to return to team-based training like a vaccinated player,” Newton said. “However, people can continue to train and perform their obligations … not at that facility. There will be players who will be impacted by that.
“The key thing from our perspective is the NRL has maintained a position on following government and health advice, and that invoices to making vaccine mandatory.
“We are supportive of that. We wholeheartedly support the vaccine rollout and encourage our players to get vaccinated. However, we maintain that the decision to be vaccinated is a matter of personal choice for players.”
The AFL has mandated that players and officials must be vaccinated to take part in the 2022 season. Their policy deems that individual who fail to comply with vaccination protocols will be banned from attending club and AFL facilities to train or play.
Further, clubs have the right to various sanctions for players who fail to comply. At the extreme end is the ability to terminate their contracts from May next year.
Newton warned the NRL to tread carefully before giving the clubs unfettered power to terminate deals.
“With regards to some of the challenges that exist with contractual matters, we consider that the NRL should consider alternatives that allow a club to maintain a player’s employment,” Newton said.
“Our primary concern is where we have a situation where a club jumps to termination in situations where the public health orders are constantly changing.
“Let’s not leap to a situation where it is like we will make a decision on a player’s career based on whether or not they can fly interstate when that is not necessary at the moment.
“We have to make sure we don’t make a rash decision in a moment of time that potentially changes in a month or two, and creates unnecessary conflict, which then puts everyone in a difficult spot.”
WHY TOUGH AFL VAX STANCE PUTS NRL IN HOT SEAT
—Jon Ralph, Michael Carayannis
AFL clubs will have the right to sack players who refuse to be vaccinated after the league stepped up to a new hard-line mandatory vaccination policy on Thursday.
The announcement comes as the NRL waits on word from the NSW government amid fears players will be locked out of Victoria following the AFL’s decision.
The NRL is not expected to mandate vaccines.
Vaccinations rates among NRL clubs have been strong, with clubs like Parramatta and Cronulla leading the way.
However, if there is no strict policy, some players may choose to remain unvaccinated, and they face the prospect of being frozen out of playing in Melbourne.
The NRL are monitoring the situation. Melbourne Storm players will need to be fully vaccinated to train and play.
The Australian Open is also under increasing threat from vaccine-hesitant players after the Federal Government declared a no-jab no-play policy for players coming from overseas.
While world No.1 Novak Djokovic has refused to reveal his vaccination status, estimates last week had men’s players at just 65 per cent vaccinated and women on the WTA on 60 per cent. Australia’s world No.1 Ash Barty is fully vaccinated.
The NRL has warned its players they face being locked out of interstate and overseas matches if they are unvaccinated.
The new AFL policy means players must be vaccinated to play next year, with every AFL player and football staffer to be fully vaccinated by February 18.
Players in different states have a range of dates to be vaccinated by, with the AFLPA agreeing to the new policy despite admitting it would prefer vaccinations to be an individual decision.
Clubs will have a number of options if players refuse to be vaccinated, including putting them onto an inactive list and paying them a portion of their salaries.
All Sydney Swans players and staff had their first doses in September, while the GWS Giants have said they have their own policy of vaccinating all staff.
They can also terminate a player’s contract with the player’s permission or keep them on their lists but not play them in 2022.
If by May 18 next year players are not vaccinated, the policy states the clubs can: “Exercise any rights the club may have at law to terminate the Player’s playing contract”.
Clubs can transfer players to an inactive list and replace them, paying the unvaccinated player 25 per cent of an AFLW contract or their CBA minimum base contract.
If the player is kept on the playing list but is not able to play clubs cannot replace them but will still pay AFLW players not less than 25 per cent of their contract salary and AFL plates 25 per cent of the minimum base salary.
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Originally published as NRL Covid vaccine policy: CEO Andrew Abdo hits back at critics of vaccination stance
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