NRL 2021: Dragons Zac Lomax, Daniel Alvaro allowed to enter Queensland

Dragons who refused to sign documents after the Covid breach at Paul Vaughan’s house will be allowed into the Queensland bubble after initially being denied.

Benji Marshall arrives at Brisbane Airport ahead of Magic Round. Picture Lachie Millard

St George Illawarra’s suspended duo Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro have finally been granted the green light to travel to Queensland.

The pair will fly to Queensland on Sunday where they will start their 14 day quarantine after being granted an exemption by the Queensland Government. Lomax and Alvaro have remained in NSW because they refused to sign a declaration which confirmed the events at Paul Vaughan’s house earlier this month. Had they signed the document they would have joined the rest of their teammates in Queensland on Wednesday and not had to quarantine.

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Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro have finally been granted permission to enter Queensland. Picture: NRL Photos.

But they will now spend the next 14 days in isolation. The duo were supposed to leave on a chartered flight on Saturday with the family members of NRL players but when the Queensland Government delayed that flight it left Alvaro and Lomax facing an uncertain future. Despite only having to serve a one-game ban for the offence, the players will now miss three games.

They will not be available for selection until St George Illawarra’s round 21 match against the Raiders. While the Dragons finally have clarity, South Sydney veteran Benji Marshall is still none the wiser about his return to the field.

Marshall could have opted to join the St George Illawarra players on the plane but would have had to quarantine. He won’t make a decision until the NRL works out if family members will be able to join the players in Queensland. The NRL were still working that through with the Queensland government but remain hopeful family members will fly late this week.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett understood Marshall’s situation.

“He didn’t think at this stage – with no one in Sydney to help him with regards to [the newborn] other than carers – that he could leave his wife in that situation,” Bennett said.

Meanwhile, Wests Tigers centre James Roberts has had to remain in Sydney following exposure to a site with a known Covid-19 case. He has returned a negative test but will remain in isolation for the next four days.

BENJI’S NRL FUTURE IN DOUBT AMID QLD SHUTOUT

Benji Marshall won’t make a decision on his immediate playing future until the NRL works out if family members will be able to join the players in Queensland.

Marshall became the first high profile casualty from the Covid-19 calamity with the South Sydney veteran now stranded in Sydney after the Queensland Government delayed family members of the NRL players from entering the state. Some coaches have privately conceded other players may up and leave if they are without their family for an extended period.

The Dragons are also sweating on an exemption from the Queensland Government to allow Daniel Alvaro and Zac Lomax to fly out as early as Saturday and start their 14-day quarantine in Queensland.

Benji Marshall’s immediate playing future is in doubt. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

The NRL were on Friday scrambling to find a resolution for not just the players but all the family members who were booked on a charter flight to the Gold Coast on Saturday which was to include Lomax and Alvaro.

That was scrapped after the Queensland Government requested further detailed information before considering granted exemptions on a case-by-case basis.

The ongoing uncertainty has placed Marshall’s immediate playing future in doubt. He was granted permission to extend his stay in Sydney before rejoining the rest of his Rabbitohs teammates in Brisbane. Marshall’s wife Zoe gave birth to the couple’s second child – a baby girl — last month. The entire Marshall family had planned on relocating, but that has now changed.

In what may be his final season of a decorated career, Marshall now faces a prolong stint on the sideline with no clear path on when he may return.

Benji and Zoe Marshall with their newborn daughter. Picture: Instagram

The NRL wrote to clubs on Friday requesting a more detailed form to be completed including asking people to confirm that they had not been a identified as a close or casual contact and they would continue to monitor the identified exposure venues for the 14 days they are quarantined.

The restrictive nature of the team’s movements in Queensland has also hampered preparations. Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien revealed the club were struggling to have Mitchell Pearce’s hamstring scanned with the halfback in severe doubt to play the Storm.

“We can’t leave the resort for anything,” O’Brien said. “That’s been the delay on (getting the scan). “We are not the only one in those category.”

The travel suspension has left some clubs and coaches furious after they assured players they could have their loved ones join them. The NRL is confident the delay is just that and hope to have the family start their quarantine on the Gold Coast by next week.

Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro have finally been granted permission to enter Queensland. Picture: NRL Photos.

It has not been all bad news with the Newcastle and Canberra family members flying out to Queensland on Friday.

Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker said he was thankful his family would soon join him in Queensland.

“I’ve only got one kid but some boys have three or four kids and leaving their partners at home to look after the kids, it’s hard enough with one 1 year old,” Croker said. “The boys are happy to get our families here and you do feel sorry for the boys, there are guys in the rooms next to us that can’t get their families yet.”