Parramatta, Penrith, Bulldogs latest clubs impacted by COVID-19

Players from the Bulldogs, Penrith and Parramatta were told to stay away from training after being caught in COVID-19 scares.

Penrith’s Charlie Staines scores his fourth try in his NRL debut on the weekend. Picture: Phil Hillyard

After weeks of existing on tenterhooks, reality finally hit for the NRL. In the space of 24 taut hours, three players were put into quarantine after finding themselves at the centre of COVID-19 scares.

NRL officials were locked in talks with their biosecurity expert doctor David Heslop on Monday night but it seems only a matter of time before their protocols are tightened up, having been loosened in recent weeks as the code enjoyed a dream run.

The latest dramas were largely self-inflicted. Bulldogs centre Jake Averillo was the exception, having been innocently caught out after his parents visited the Crossroads Hotel in Casula on July 5. The hotel has become a COVID hot-spot.

Averillo lives with his parents and was tested for COVID-19 on Monday. His parents were tested over the weekend and will be retested on July 19. He will be kept away from his teammates until then, the coronavirus scare another blow to the club and their under-siege coach Dean Pay.

Stefano Utoikamanu breached protocols by hugging family members. Picture: Brett Costello

In the case of Parramatta forward Stefano Utoikamanu and Penrith back Charlie Staines, they had little excuse other than naivety. Eels rookie Utoikamanu was separated from his teammates and forced undergo testing along with a selection of family and friends after he celebrated his debut on Sunday by embracing them following the match.

Staines, who marked his debut on Saturday with a four-try haul, celebrated with too many friends and family after the match and then bizarrely suffered a case of lockjaw in the early hours of Sunday morning, resulting in him being rushed to hospital.

He informed the club on Sunday morning, where he was found to have breached the game’s biosecurity protocols. He too has been stood down as he prepares to undergo the requisite testing.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo was reluctant to be overly critical of the players, although he issued a warning that everyone in the game involved needed to remain vigilant.

“All of these are a concern,” Abdo said.

“We have to tighten up. The infection rate in NSW is a massive concern for us. Now is not the time to be taking your foot off the gas. Now is not the time to be relaxing.

“In fact, the protocols might tighten up. In the worst case if Queensland look to close their border, our only chance is to get the exemption we had previously. That is going to require us going back to a lot of the protocols we had previously.
“You have to prepare for all (scenarios). In two weeks time if the numbers in NSW look like they look in Victoria, we will clearly have to be ahead of that. The positive is the systems are working.

Canterbury’s Jake Averillo’s parents attended the Crossroads Hotel. Picture: Brett Costello

“We are finding out about it, they are getting isolated and they are being tested. We’re aware of it, we are monitoring it and if we need to tighten up the protocols, we will do that.”

Abdo’s concern is well founded. The game has enjoyed a charmed run to a large extent since the competition resumed but the past 48 hours has provided a stark reminder of how the competition exists on a knife’s edge.

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Few have ridden the rollercoaster as much as Staines. He celebrated a remarkable debut at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday in front of family and friends. He then celebrated again afterwards with 10 visitors at his home — the game’s biosecurity rules allow for 10 visitors each day, but there must be a maximum of five in any group.

Staines then suffered lockjaw, prompting him to attend the emergency department at Nepean Hospital at 2.30am on Sunday morning. The club was notified of Staines’ hospital visit on Sunday morning and later found out he had breached the protocols around visitors to his house.

The Panthers notified the NRL and confirmed Staines had been stood down pending the next steps.

“Charlie has been extremely naive on this occasion and inadvertently breached the protocols that are in place to protect the game,” Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher said.

“His misunderstanding of the specifics of the guidelines cannot be overlooked, nor can his failure to contact the club before seeking medical treatment for his jaw condition.

“The club and Charlie will now work closely with the NRL to ensure all necessary steps are taken to rectify the situation.”

Averillo will go into isolation and be unable to train or play until July 19. Utoikamanu will be free to return to training and playing once he and those close to him have been cleared of COVID-19.