Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad fourth Raiders player to test positive for Covid

Xavier Savage has been tipped play an key role in Canberra’s 2022 campaign but the teen sensation has a battle to win a spot in the Round 1 line-up.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been ruled out of Canberra’s final trial match. Mark Evans/Getty

Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has tested positive for Covid less than 72 hours after Canberra’s first trial match in Sydney against the Roosters last Friday.

The Raiders confirmed Nicoll-Klokstad returned a positive RAT on Monday morning and is now one of four players, including Jordan Rapana, Sam Williams and Matt Frawley, forced into a 7-day isolation period.

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Despite travelling home to Canberra on a coach for over three hours on Friday night, none of Nicoll-Klokstad’s teammates have tested positive.

Williams first returned a positive test ahead of the Roosters’ trial at Leichhardt Oval and didn’t travel on the team bus to the game. Frawley was forced into isolation as a close contact to Williams. Rapana entered isolation following the All Stars match.

All four players must go through the NRL’s return to play protocols before being cleared to take the field again.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been ruled out of Canberra’s final trial match. Mark Evans/Getty

It means Nicoll-Klokstad will now also miss Canberra’s week two trial against Manly.

The positive test has handed Xavier Savage, who started at the back against the Roosters, another shot at Canberra’s No.1 jumper for round one with the rising rookie set to start there again in the trial against the Sea Eagles.

While Nicoll-Klokstad has vowed not to give up the position without a fight, he conceded the boom teenager already has him beat when it comes to one important thing — speed.

“He’s got a lot of speed. That’s something you can’t teach, speed. He’s got something straight away that I don’t have so I have to go to my strength and that’s my running game and organise defence,” Nicoll-Klokstad said.

“It’s good to have competition, it’s healthy as Sticky [Stuart] says. I’m relishing that opportunity to fight it out for that spot and see how he goes come round one.”

Xavier Savage will be named at fullback. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty

Savage, returning from a shoulder injury, starred in the Raiders’ 32-18 win over the Sydney Roosters in week one of the trials.

Savage finished the game with a try, two linebreaks, 147 metres from nine runs and four tackle busts.

But Nicoll-Klokstad, who was limited to eight games last year because of neck injury, was also impressive playing out of position in the halves, setting up two tries.

“He’ll have to play pretty well to get me out of there,” Nicoll-Klokstad.

“I’m training as hard as I can to make sure I’m putting my hand up for round one fullback.

“Fullback is my position and I’m training as hard as I can to make sure that’s the case in round one.”

Stuart did his best to shield Savage, who played only three games in his debut season in 2021, from journalists and the media spotlight after the boom back’s eye-catching display at Leichhardt Oval.

While Savage will eventually play an important role in Canberra’s 2022 campaign, the 19-year old is expected to bid his time and it’s believed he is no certainty of being named for the Raiders in round one.

“He’s a talented player but [Friday] was only the second starting game at NRL. He hasn’t played two full games yet because he got injured against the Sharks,” Stuart said.

“It’s important to keep his head down and really sacrifice and work hard. He has the ability to play wing or at centre. It’s important that he’s studying his game.”