Josh Hannay savages ‘selfish and ignorant’ stars following Covid-19 breaches

Sharks interim coach Josh Hannay had some choice words for those who have chosen to breach the NRL’s strict biosecurity protocols.

Sharks coach Josh Hannay has labelled Jai Arrow and players from the St. George Illawarra Dragons “selfish and ignorant” for breaching the NRL’s Covid-19 directives over the past week.

The coach’s comments came one day after Arrow flouted the league’s biosecurity protocols by inviting a woman into the Queensland Origin camp.

Hannay, who last week lashed Cronulla’s Josh Dugan for his breach, said it was “disappointing” that players did not seem to be taking the restrictions seriously.

“The behaviours of some of these guys, in my opinion, it’s selfish and ignorant,” Hannay told reporters on Friday.

“To continue to turn a blind eye to the situation we’re in and essentially put the game at risk, I don’t get it. It’s really frustrating for this to be ongoing. You’d like to hope and think that there’s going to be no more of these situations.

“You shake your head any time a player steps out of line because everyone knows what’s asked and required of them.

“To turn a blind eye to it all, it’s really disappointing.”

Hannay, who was twice picked for the Maroons in his playing days, said breaches at representative and club level were equally flagrant.

“I just think it’s poor behaviour, regardless of whether it’s in the Maroons camp or whether it’s done at club level,” Hannay said.

“I just think it’s unacceptable, really. I just hope that it’s the last of it, to be really frank, because it’s so frustrating.”

Paul Vaughan and 12 other Dragons players were fined a total of $305,000 for holding a party in defiance of the league’s biosecurity protocols. Picture: Speed Media / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cronulla centre Will Chambers has been forced to sit Sunday’s game out after leaving the side’s Covid-19 bubble for the birth of his third child.

The veteran, who signed with the Sharks mid-season, was granted permission to visit Melbourne for the birth, but may be forced to self-isolate for 14 days following his re-entry into NSW.

Hannay is hoping the NRL will grant Chambers an exemption, given Melbourne’s stable Covid-19 situation, but has said “a complication” in repatriating the former Maroon may throw a spanner in the works.

“There’s been no Covid protocol breach, I want to make that point really clear, but there’s just been a complication which has prevented him from re-entering our bubble at this stage,” he said.

Hannay would not elaborate on the nature of the “complication” but said the club would “continue to work with Apollo (the NRL’s Covid-19 task force) in making sure his re-entry into our bubble is done the right and correct way”.

Despite being named to play against the Warriors on Sunday, Hannay hinted Chambers would be replaced by Connor Tracey, shifting Braydon Trindall into the halves.

With just two competition points separating the sides in 8th and 13th on the NRL ladder, the match looms as a golden chance for Cronulla to solidify its place in the top eight as the season approaches its pointy end.

“Coming off a disappointing loss last weekend, we need to get back into some winning form ASAP,” Hannay said.

“I think along with the Warriors, there’s probably half a dozen other teams who are looking at every week from now on in as must-win. It’s no different for us.”