Party is over ...COVID-19 cops to read riot act

The NRL will assign liaison officers to each club to ensure they follow the protocols established by Project Apollo.

Josh Addo-Carr, third from right, and Latrell Mitchell were fined for breaching social distance rules after a camp on the weekend.

Every player and official in the game will be read the riot act on Monday as the NRL seeks to ensure there is no repeat of the disastrous few days that threatened to derail plans to resume the season.

The NRL had planned to allow sides to resume training from Monday but that idea has now been delayed by 24 hours as they leave players and officials in no doubt about what is required of them under the new regime.

The Australian understands that each club will be provided with a liaison officer — a COVID-19 cop — whose job will be to monitor whether clubs follow the protocols drawn up by Project Apollo.

They will also be charged with speaking to players and officials on Monday about their obligations under the strict rules that have been devised in concert with biosecurity expert doctor David Heslop.

“As part of the biosecurity measures, now it is more important than ever,” ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys said.

“Once they have that, there is no excuse. Zero. They have to appreciate that they’re not just risking their own career, they are risking the careers of all in the game. If there is a slip-up it brings the whole game down, not just them.”

The importance of Monday has only been amplified in recent days, when players and by extension the NRL have come under heavy criticism for flouting the rules around self-isolation during the coronavirus.

The fallout continued on Wednesday as Penrith half Nathan Cleary faced fresh questioning over social media footage that showed him dancing with women on Anzac Day.

It is understood the integrity unit interviewed Cleary for a second time to get his version of events, the Panthers confident that their star playmaker would be spared further sanctions — he was fined $10,000 and received a suspended one game suspension by the NRL on Tuesday for breaching government rules.

Cleary was spared a fine from police, but his actions — along with that of South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell and Melbourne winger Josh Addo-Carr — placed rugby league’s return in jeopardy and drew scorn from government officials.

“We always base any decision on health advice and on the ability of an organisation to stick to that health advice so I think it does jeopardise, what’s happened, because the season hasn’t even started,” NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said

“We are in a pandemic. It’s life and death. To compromise someone else’s safety, that’s inexcusable. The word disappointing doesn’t really cut it, does it? To have people behave in that way is beyond belief.

“There are a number of question marks and the organisation doesn’t do itself any service by having players acting that way.”

The NRL isn’t on its own — three AFL players from Fremantle are under investigation after they allegedly attended a house party last weekend.

V’landys acknowledged the NRL could have been harder on the quartet – Newcastle player Tyrone Roberts-Davis was also fined and received a suspended ban – and said he respected the opinions of those who believed the game got it wrong.

“Maybe we should have explained it better,” V’landys said.

“The good thing we did do was we did it quickly. I think we need to make decisions quickly. If they don’t tell you the truth the first time around, that will be their problem.”