NRL Covid: Josh Papalii move sees unvaccinated numbers fall to single digits
The number of unvaccinated NRL players has fallen to single digits thanks to Josh Papalii’s change of heart, but there’s one big name still holding out.
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Josh Papalii has helped the NRL’s list of unvaccinated players to drop below 10 - but the Storm remain uncertain over the future of influential forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Asofa-Solomona’s anti-vaccination stand-off with the Storm is headed for a climax with the towering prop due back to pre-season training on Wednesday.
In Victoria, any athlete who hasn’t been vaccinated is unable to train with a stadium precinct or training facility.
The news is increasingly better for the Canberra Raiders. They had four players holding off receiving the jab.
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The Sunday Telegraph can reveal two of the four, including Test prop Papalii, have received their first vaccination.
Papalii has spoken (see below) previously about his apprehension for the vaccination.
It’s estimated that the number of unvaccinated players is under 10.
Despite the impressive rate of vaccination across the NRL, the governing body are likely to discuss policy at an ARL Commission meeting on Tuesday around how club’s manage their salary cap, if a player is unable to train or play.
The Titans are eagerly awaiting the NRL’s position with Gold Coast centre Brian Kelly speaking about his own “personal health choice” on Saturday.
Kelly insists he and the Titans are working together on his vaccination status, with unprotected Queensland players to be locked out of stadiums next year.
The 25-year-old was one of two players whom the Titans threatened to stand down last year when he refused the flu jab, despite a Queensland Government directive.
NRL BOSS’ WARNING: VACCINATION ALONE WON’T ENSURE SEASON
By Fatima Kdouh
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says players face a third-straight season of Covid biosecurity measures, revealing the governing body’s plan for keeping the 2022 season alive “goes well beyond” just vaccinations.
Players that have already returned to training were tested for the virus before being allowed to start their pre-season and have had to maintain the public health orders in their respective states.
But the NRL is now looking at introducing more regular testing in the new year and working to minimise the risk of players becoming close and casual contacts.
“It’s unlikely we’ll move to daily testing but we’ll work on a testing regimen that the commission will sign off on based on our experts. We haven’t gotten to that point just yet but the testing would be in line with training and matches,” Abdo said. “ … making sure we aren’t disrupted in terms of close and casual contacts.
“The protocols are going to be important. Regular and rapid testing is going to be important, using technology and making sure that we keep anyone safe.
“We are doing the work now and we’ll engage with the clubs about what those protocols will look like following the break.”
Last week, Manly escaped a Covid scare after forward Josh Aloiai became the first NRL player to test positive for the virus. Aloiai had not had any contact with Sea Eagles teammates, saving the side from any disruptions.
The club was under the spotlight again on Wednesday after The Daily Telegraph revealed their head of high performance was overseeing pre-season training while unvaccinated.
Abdo also stressed any biosecurity protocols put in place would be vital to the continuity of season 2022, which he conceded is likely to be ‘challenging’.
“Whilst vaccination is incredibly important, and the people of NSW have done a terrific job in terms of getting vaccinated, for us the continuity of the competition goes well beyond that,” Abdo said.
“It goes to early detection, testing becomes critical.
“If we want to protect our players and the community, I think we still have a very challenging year ahead from this perspective.”
It’s believed only around 15 players are not yet fully vaccinated but Abdo said he was hopeful every top-30 player would be jabbed before the end of pre-season. It’s likely there will be fewer than five unvaccinated players before Round 1 kicks off.
“Hopefully that will be in single figures [unvaccinated players] very soon. As the commission has said all along, this is not something we are mandating but we strongly encourage,” Abdo said.
“We have an NRLW starting very soon and then the NRL competition after, I’m confident between now and then we’ll have a very small group unvaccinated, if any at all.”
The NRLW’s six clubs were also close to being fully vaccinated.
Players from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Parramatta, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and Sydney Roosters are expected to report for pre-season training in January ahead of the season kick-off, the first of two NRLW competitions in 2022.
“Obviously the time frame is a bit more challenging, with their pre-season to ramp up pretty soon. We have worked really well with all six clubs, we are up to between 85-90 per cent at each club,” Abdo said.
“Now it’s about making sure we have the appropriate protocols.”
CANBERRA BUBBLE CAN’T PROTECT UNVACCINATED FOREVER
By: David Riccio
Josh Papalii has indicated to Raiders officials he’ll be vaccinated in time for next season despite posting a controversial social media message that can be perceived as a show of support for anti-vaxxers.
Papalii – who sought a medical exemption for the flu shot in the past – is one of four Canberra players who are yet to receive their first jab.
The Test and Queensland Origin prop posted a screenshot of a historic photo that depicts former Nazi Party member August Landmesser refusing to perform a Nazi salute alongside his co-workers at a shipyard in Hamburg in 1936.
Under the photo on Papalii’s post, are the words: “Everyone thinks they’re gonna ‘be this guy’ when the time comes. But the time came and they aren’t.’’
The post was sent to Papalii’s 50,500 followers on Instagram.
The NRL and Raiders administration declined to comment about the post when contacted by News Corp.
The NRL have been open about their decision not to mandate vaccination, allowing every player the freedom of choice.
There remain 12 players from a total of 480 NRL-contracted players who are yet to be vaccinated.
Even without a vaccination, Papalii is free to commence pre-season training with the Raiders on his first official day back on Monday.
The ACT government health orders are different to that of the Victorian and NSW health orders, where in those two states athletes aren’t allowed to train within a training or stadium precinct without being double vaccinated.
Papalii and the rest of the Raiders squad are permitted to continue training as normal, even without a jab.
The issue for the Raiders will be when the 2022 NRL competition is due to begin.
Any player who hasn’t been fully vaccinated is unlikely to be allowed to travel interstate or regionally for away games.
The Raiders are confident that the four players remaining on their squad without an inoculation will have received their vaccination passport by early next year.
Meanwhile, the NRL is preparing to implement policy related to unvaccinated players that will assist impacted clubs and their ability to field a competitive roster.
In their most recent discussion, the NRL are considering deducting a percentage – related to the unvaccinated individual’s value – from their respective club’s cap.
That would allow clubs to buy a replacement player, or borrow reserve players from rival clubs, particularly for away games, if required.
V’landy’s vax call: Why clubs won’t feel jab pain
– Brent Read and David Riccio
Peter V’landys has declared that no club will be disadvantaged as the game prepares to finalise a system of salary cap exemptions for players who refuse the jab.
As it stands, only a handful of players and clubs are expected to be affected when the season kicks off next year.
However, a cohort of club bosses and the players union are pushing for the impacted sides to receive salary cap dispensation if they have unvaccinated players who are forced to miss games or unable to play.
The Rugby League Players Association has already forwarded a proposal to the NRL that would give affected clubs the ability to terminate unvaccinated players, or receive salary cap relief proportionate to games when they are unavailable.
In the background, the NRL has been working on their own plan, which is expected to be put before the ARL Commission in early-December.
V’landys hinted that the commission would come to the party as he insisted that all clubs would compete on a level playing filled
“We will make sure it is equitable,” V’landys said.
“If I was a club I would not be concerned. We will ensure no club is disadvantaged. Circumstances may be hard but we are going to do our best to make sure it is equitable.
“At the moment the numbers are coming down each day. We will certainly be looking at it (salary cap allowances).
“There is a commission meeting in December so we will have a clearer picture as to how many (clubs) are affected.
“Each day it is getting less and less and less, which highlights in my view that by not mandating it, you get a lot more co-operation through education.
“I don’t want to pre-empt any commission decisions but let’s just see what it ends up with.”
V’landys and the commission have come under fire in some quarters for refusing to mandate vaccinations, leaving it to the individual clubs to adopt a stance.
Clubs have thus far been reluctant to act but Canterbury look set to be the first to take action against one of their players after offering John Asiata a mutual termination over his reluctance to be vaccinated.
It is understood the Bulldogs have forwarded Asiata paperwork which would end his time at the club — he is believed to harbour concerns over the Covid vaccine due to both family history and personal beliefs.
The Bulldogs are yet to mandate vaccinations but it is understood they are among a clutch of clubs who are weighing up whether to head down that path, which would in turn give them the power to act against players who refuse the jab.
Melbourne are the other club pushing hard for some clarity around the salary cap given one of their highest paid players — Nelson Asofa-Solomona — is yet to receive the vaccination.
If he is unable to play, Melbourne may be given the power and financial clout to sign a replacement as part of a proposal that would provide cover for players sidelined due to their vaccination stance.
V’landys reiterated that the commission would leave it to the clubs to decide whether to go down the path of mandating vaccinations and suggested the small number who had refused the jab vindicated their stance.
“As we have said for day one, we support vaccination,” V’landys said.
“However, you have to do it by education and co-operation. We will continue with that and see what happens.
“That is the same theory being applied by the Federal and NSW government. We’re nearly at 99 per cent in the NRL, which is not a bad effort when you consider it is not mandated.”
Meanwhile, it is understood that the NRL hopes to get sign-off on a new broadcasting deal with the Nine Network at the ARL Commission meeting in December.
V’landys said talks with the game’s commercial broadcaster over an extension to their current deal — which runs until the end of 2022 — were doing closer to finalisation.
“Getting close but not finalised,” he said.
“We have certainly been making progress and I am very confident we will be able to make an announcement in the next couple of weeks.”
Revealed: The three stars sticking solid to anti-vax stance
The number of unvaccinated players could drop below 10 as early as next week as the NRL edges towards signing-off on salary cap dispensation for clubs with anti-vaxxers.
The decline in players without their first jab has dropped in one week from 15 to 12 with the Sharks, Sea Eagles and Roosters poised to record 100 per cent vaccinated squads.
All three clubs had one player remaining from their top 30 squad without their first jab.
However, News Corpcan confirm a Sharks key forward and a Roosters train-and-trial player have joined Manly’s Dylan Walker in receiving their first inoculation.
It means all three clubs should be entirely double vaccinated within the next fortnight.
Until then, the trio aren’t allowed to begin pre-season training with their clubs until they are double vaccinated with their respective high performance units providing stay-at-home training regimes for the individuals until they can return.
Meanwhile, it’s understood the Gold Coast’s Brian Kelly and Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo have indicated that they are edging closer towards receiving their first jab.
The Raiders are also confident that at least two of their four unvaccinated players will receive their first jab before Christmas.
At Wests Tigers, their one player — a rookie outside back within their first grade roster — has also indicated to club management that he is preparing to be vaccinated.
However, the same can’t be said for Canterbury’s John Asiata, Penrith’s Api Koroisau and Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona with the trio standing firm on their personal decision to decline a vaccination.
The Bulldogs, Panthers and Storm are among a clutch of clubs waiting on clarity from the NRL on whether they will receive salary cap dispensation for players who refuse the jab, and therefore could be potentially prevented from playing some games next season.
The Rugby League Players Association, having consulted a cohort of clubs, provided the NRL with a framework for dealing with unvaccinated players last week.
Their plan would give clubs four options including the docking of pay, placing players on an inactive list, or terminating their existing deals.
That proposal is now with the NRL as they determine the way forward.
It is understood any plans to give clubs salary cap dispensation for unvaccinated players will need to be approved by the ARL Commission.
The commission is scheduled to meet in early December, although an impromptu meeting could be called to sign off on any salary cap changes.
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