NRL anti-vaxxers: Titans stars stood down under ‘no jab, no play’ rule
Three Gold Coast Titans players have been stood down by the NRL after refusing to receive influenza vaccinations under new biosecurity guidelines to get the 2020 season back on track.
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Bryce Cartwright’s stance against vaccinations will be put to the ultimate test after the NRL stood down three Gold Coast Titans players for rejecting flu jabs.
Cartwright and Titans teammates Nathan Peats and Brian Kelly were yesterday informed they would be stood down indefinitely while the NRL reviewed its flu-jab policy on the back of pressure from the Queensland Government.
Peats immediately backflipped on his initial rejection of the vaccination after being informed of the NRL decision and received it hours later while Kelly and Cartwright were yet to respond.
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All Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys players agreed to have the vaccination as part of the NRL’s return to play biosecurity protocols which were approved by the Queensland Government.
Cartwright has been a staunch advocate of what he and wife Shanelle describe as “pro choice”, also opting not to vaccinate their two children.
The anti-vaxxer players thought they would be allowed to play after signing waivers, but state government pressure forced the NRL to stand them down and review the policy.
Cartwright must now decide whether to receive the vaccination and return to training in preparation for the May 28 season resumption or plead his case with the NRL as to why he should be exempt.
Seen my name in the media regarding getting stood down for no flu jab. It has nothing to do with some other players and being anti vaccination. Myself, wife and both my sons are vaccinated. I had a bad experience in 2012 when I was at Souths when I had the flu shot, that’s my
— Nathan Peats (@nathanpeats9) May 8, 2020
Only reason behind it. I’ve spoken to the club and will get the jab this afternoon. I had the option to say yes or no and I chose no for that reason. If I knew it would blow up I would have said yes straight away
— Nathan Peats (@nathanpeats9) May 8, 2020
Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Jeannette Young said she believed a resolution with the NRL would be reached.
“I’ve had a discussion with them and they have stood down those three players at the moment until we work through what it means,” she said.
“At the moment they’ve done a very good job. All their other players and staff are vaccinated. I’m sure we’re going to sort it all out.
“They will be coming back to me about those three individual players.
“That’s three players out of three teams so we’ll work that one through.”
Titans chairman Dennis Watt said the players had to provide evidence as to why they should be exempt from receiving the injection.
“They have been stood down from training pending further notice,” Watt said.
“We have received advice from the NRL that three players can’t attend training until they receive the relevant vaccinations or they can provide evidence that they have medical reasons for doing so.”
Peats took to social media yesterday afternoon to explain his reasons for initially rejecting the vaccination.
“Seen my name in the media regarding getting stood down for no flu jab,” he tweeted.
“It has nothing to do with some other players and being anti vaccination. Myself, wife and both my sons are vaccinated.
“I had a bad experience in 2012 when I was at Souths when I had the flu shot, that’s my only reason behind it.
“I’ve spoken to the club and will get the jab this afternoon.
“I had the option to say yes or no and I chose no for that reason. If I knew it would blow up I would have said yes straight away.”
Queensland health minister Stephen Miles said it wasn’t a good look for the NRL to have players rejecting vaccinations.
“This was their plan, they came up with this, they put it to us,” he told ABC Radio.
“Jeannette assessed it as being a good plan, and one that was safe. It’s their plan and they have to implement it.
“It’s not a good look, frankly, that so quickly into this agreement they’ve not been able to implement their own plan.
“They have responsibility to implement the plan that has been approved.”