Covid-19 vaccination: What NRL can learn from EPL, NFL, NBA

Players docked pay, clubs jabbing fans and Boris Johnson’s vaccination order — as the world’s biggest sports roll out their vaccination policy, what will the NRL do?

Nathan Cleary and the Panthers board a flight for Queensland last month. Picture: Toby Zerna

The NRL, like the rest of world sport, are running head-on towards their most significant leadership decision. Will the vaccination of NRL players and staff be mandatory in 2022?

Across the world, major sporting codes are implementing their own vaccination policies for clubs, players and staff.

Fans are also deeply connected to the discussion — and policies, which have created both confidence and tension.

ARL Commission Chairman Peter V’landys has his own personal view — which as we’ve detailed outlined below, differs from the likes of the NFL, NBA and Premier League.

“We’re a sport, we’re not a political party,’’ V’landys told this column.

“Our game is about unity, acceptance and inclusiveness. And so then, are we going to create a divide between players? I’m not going to be party to that.

“We’re an escapism for fans and the last thing you want to do is bring politics into it.

“We’re not going to politicise an individual’s choice. We’ll implement a policy, which ultimately will be focused on freedom of choice.’’

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NFL

The NFL isn’t messing around when it comes to COVID-19.

An email reportedly sent to teams late last month has one clear message for players and staff: get vaccinated or your entire team could pay the price.
If a game is postponed and rescheduled due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak is responsible for shouldering any additional financial burden.

In addition, players on both teams will not be paid for the lost contest, and also be subject to potential discipline from the Commissioner’s office.

NFL star Tom Brady. The NFL isn’t messing around when it comes to COVID-19. Picture: Dylan Buell/Getty Images

As of last week, the NFL were closing in on having 90 per cent of its players at least partially vaccinated at a time when the country as a whole has struggled to reach 70 per cent for its adult population.

The league has insisted it will not mandate vaccinations, but the restrictions in place for non-vaccinated players and potential penalties to teams make the NFL‘s stance crystal clear.
The other watch-and-see story that could emerge out of the NFL — and being monitored by Australia‘s major sporting codes — is whether unvaccinated players are treated differently at the transfer or recruitment table, to vaccinated players.

NBA

Not as bullish as the NFL towards vaccine, but that could change quickly.

With 10 weeks until the first round of the 2021-2022 season, the NBA have adopted some of the vaccine-policies used by the NFL. The NBA is pushing for at least 85 per cent of all teams to be vaccinated. The pre-season Summer League (later this month) will provide an intriguing preview for what players face during the upcoming season-proper.

There are benefits for those vaccinated, both at an individual and team level.

Individual players competing in the Summer League don‘t have to quarantine following exposure to COVID-19; can have friends, family and others visits at home and can dine outdoors at restaurants, among other eased restrictions.

NBA star LeBron James. The NBA is pushing for at least 85 per cent of all teams to be vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated teams will no longer have to wear masks at the practice facility; have more flexibility to leave the team hotel on the road.

Last week, Phoenix Suns legend Charles Barkley went public on why the NBA should require all of its players, coaches and employees to be vaccinated in order to play.

“Yes, I’m vaccinated,” Barkley said, according to CNBC.

“Everybody should be vaccinated. Period … The only people who are not vaccinated are just a**holes.”

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Free entry with every jab. You wonder if the NRL will go to the lengths that Major League Baseball have?

The MLB and its 30 clubs spent last June offering incentives to unvaccinated fans through a program called “MLB Vaccinate At The Plate.”
Each of the 30 MLB clubs, working with their local healthcare provider, hosted at least one event where unvaccinated fans received free tickets to a game if they received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Similar to the NFL and NBA, the MLB vaccinated players and personnel are subject to fewer restrictions than those who remain unvaccinated.

They can take off their masks in certain settings, reduce their frequency of COVID-19 testing, and have family members join them on the road.

Once a team reaches 85 per cent vaccination, further team restrictions are removed. News of a team reaching 85 per cent vaccination is considered headline news with daily updates of a team‘s vaccination numbers reported on the MLB website.

The MLB and its 30 clubs spent last June offering incentives to unvaccinated fans.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Imagine Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling the NRL that in order to keep the competition going, every player and staff member needed to be vaccinated.

That’s what’s happened in the Premier League.

England PM Boris Johnson has ordered the Premier League players and staff to get their vaccinations done with both doses in order to keep the league running. Fans will also need a vaccine passport to enter stadiums.

Not surprisingly, the mandate has been met with angst by some clubs.
Last Thursday, it was revealed a number of Premier League clubs were poised to tell the government that its plan for mandatory vaccinations for all players and fans is unworkable.

Johnson is pushing for it to be a requirement that from October 1 all spectators at sports events of more than 20,000 people must be double-jabbed, but top-flight clubs want the flexibility to allow fans and players to show proof of a negative test instead.

So far, only two clubs in the English Premier League have had their players and staff fully vaccinated.

The government is imposing the rule on all sportspersons, not just for those playing football.

Roosters players board a flight bound for Queensland last month. Picture: Toby Zerna

CRICKET

Australia’s cricketers were all fully vaccinated before their tour of the Caribbean last month.

The next major hurdle for cricket authorities is the safe delivery of the multimillion-dollar Ashes between Australia and England at the end of this year.

Cricket Australia remains bullish the Ashes scheduled to start in December will go ahead. However, there is a reluctance from some England players to take on the tour, if their families are not permitted to join them in Australia.

What isn‘t uncertain is that the entire England touring party will be vaccinated by December.

They don‘t have a choice.
The besieged federal government is already under pressure to refuse exemptions to all but the England players and coaches.

AFL

The AFL are yet to implement a distinct stance or policy on vaccination, watching and waiting to see what is and isn’t working across the major sports across the world.

In the meantime, the AFL is working on an education program to inform players about the coronavirus vaccine and are likely to encourage people in the industry to get the jab.

Last week, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan told media the league was preparing its approach to vaccination, which hadn’t yet been a consideration because of broad supply issues.

“As supply comes on, we will be encouraging all of our players and our staff to get vaccinated,” McLachlan said.

Originally published as Covid-19 vaccination: What NRL can learn from EPL, NFL, NBA