NRL 2022: Coach’s Covid-19 concern for the competition

Socialising could be on the way out as worried coaches start to plan for another Covid-19 wave over winter which could wipe out players and staff.

Bulldogs halfback Kyle Flanagan with interim coach Mick Potter during training. Picture: NRL Images

Covid-19 could destroy teams in the run to the finals if the NRL pushes ahead with its current model which requires players, coaches and staff to quarantine for seven days.

That’s the opinion of Canterbury’s interim coach, Mick Potter, who missed his side’s Round 16 loss to the Sharks due to the virus.

The Bulldogs are dealing with another positive case after Aaron Schoupp was ruled out of Sunday’s game against South Sydney after contracting the virus during the bye round, although the rest of the squad appears to be fine.

Aaron Schoupp is the latest player to test positive to the virus. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

The Maroons were without Cameron Munster and Murray Taulagi for the State of Origin decider after both tested positive last week, while a number of NRL players and coaches have been forced into isolation as Australia deals with another potential wave over winter.

“If they’re going to police it like this, then yeah, it is a concern,” Potter said.

“If they treat it like it is and you have to have seven days in quarantine, it’s going to affect every team. That’s if it continues like it is – I have no idea what’s going to happen.”

Potter said the biggest worry for teams was having to deal with an outbreak if their top 30 had already been decimated by injuries. It’s why the club has reminded the playing group to be extra careful.

“We’ll make that point again today about being wary of where you’re socialising,” he said.

“You can’t tell people what to do, but in this environment, it’s just the way the rules are and we have to be cautious.

“I don’t think the teams have got the resources if there are seven, eight, nine bouts of Covid in any one week.

“Your resources are really tested, so if you’ve got injuries like we’ve got, it certainly would test us to the wire. Teams that haven’t got injuries probably have the extra backup.”

Potter’s Bulldogs have significantly improved under the interim coach, but that will be severely tested by a South Sydney side which has piled on 70 points in two weeks with Latrell Mitchell back in the team.

“He’s awesome with Cody Walker and Lachlan Ilias there, and I’m expecting Damien Cook to back up,” Potter said ahead of this weekend’s match.

“There are so many threats in their team, so it’s going to be a tough one and I think it’ll be one of our biggest challenges since I’ve been here.”

The Bulldogs will be sweating on having Matt Burton in the team, but Potter said he hasn’t spoken with his chief playmaker after Wednesday’s wild decider.

The Bulldogs don’t know if Matt Burton will play this weekend. Picture: Fox League

Burton spent 10 minutes in the sin bin after he and Dane Gagai threw some haymakers.

“I think both their intentions were to defend themselves,” Potter said of the incident.

“I think there could’ve been some other action taken on other people. He did cop the rough end of the pineapple. I think the 10 minutes in the bin took the heat out of the moment and that was sufficient.”