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Penrith could play host to vaccination day involving the entire competition

A new vaccination hub at Panthers Leagues Club could mean players from across Sydney are vaccinated en masse once their respective seasons are over

Penrith’s star halfback Nathan Cleary is one of several NRL players who will front a vaccination campaign designed to “get our lives back’.’
Penrith’s star halfback Nathan Cleary is one of several NRL players who will front a vaccination campaign designed to “get our lives back’.’

NRL players could be bussed to Penrith and mass vaccinated against Covid-19 at Panthers Leagues Club under a plan put forward by Penrith boss Brian Fletcher.

From Monday, Panthers Leagues Club will become a vaccination hub, providing up to 2000 injections per day. It could also become the vaccination site of choice for NRL players.

The Australian understands that Fletcher has support of other club bosses for a mass vaccination day, when players from Sydney clubs would be bussed to Penrith once their season is over and receive their first injection.

They would then have their second injection three weeks later and be fully vaccinated to resume pre-season training. It is understood the plan has already been broached with the NSW government and the first lot of vaccinations could be dished out in less than a month.

The NRL is currently working on a road map to vaccination as they look to ensure their players are protected against Covid-19 in time for the start of their respective pre-seasons.

The first stage of that process will be to educate the players and ease any of their concerns. Biosecurity expert doctor David Heslop is expected to be involved in talks with the respective playing squads, outlining the implications of vaccination and how important it could be for the game and their respective careers.

Sydney clubs are already bracing for more financial doom and gloom next year after they were warned by Heslop that the ongoing threat of Covid-19 may mean that restrictions on mass gatherings continue into the start of next season.

Club sources told The Australian that Heslop said it may take until next year to reach a level of vaccinations that made state and federal governments comfortable. Once that rate was achieved, restrictions would be gradually eased.

If his forecasts are correct, it means the Sydney clubs at the very least are likely to confront the start of next season with crowds reduced due to Covid concerns.

That would mean more lost revenue for clubs who are bleeding after the competition was moved en masse to southeast Queensland. The clubs recently told head office that they would lose a combined $22 million this season in gate takings, sponsorship and corporate support.

The NRL will use those projections to see whether they can get some financial assistance for the clubs. They may need to dig into their pockets again next year if things don’t change.

Ongoing restrictions would also have repercussions for players who decline to have vaccinations. One way that state and federal governments could sway people to have vaccinations would be to limit interstate travel to those who have received the jab.

That would clearly have ramifications for rugby league players given they would potentially be restricted from crossing state borders.

Meanwhile, Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has backed calls for changes to the judicial system in the wake of Victor Radley’s latest ban for a charge down on Brisbane’s Albert Kelly.

Radley will miss three weeks, the length of the ban largely thanks to the loading he has from prior offences. Robinson doesn’t dispute that Radley should have been charged but believes the system needs to be reviewed given sharp increase in the number of charges being laid by the match review committee.

As The Australian revealed earlier this week, grade one offences have been on a steep rise this season. Given clubs have traditionally been loath to contest grade one offences, players are stacking up loading faster than ever before.

“In this one we would have taken the guilty plea,” Robinson said.

“I have been critical of the system. I don’t think it has been right but they got the grading right on this. The way Rads went in could have broken his leg.

“We have seen that cause some serious damage before. It didn’t. He was fine after that. I feel like the grading was right.

“If he missed a week for that it would have been fine. It is the amount of loading. What similar offence has Rads had to that? Because of loading he misses an extra two games.

“I think that is more the question than the grade. The crackdowns have added charges. There is so many more charges than what there used to be and the level of charges have gone up.

“Therefore, guys are missing games they shouldn’t.”

Read related topics:CoronavirusVaccinations
Brent Read
Brent ReadSenior Sports Writer

Brent Read is one of rugby league's agenda setters but is also among the nation's most well-known golf writers. He also covers Olympic sports, writing with authority, wit and enthusiasm. Brent began his career in sport as a soccer player, playing with the Brisbane Strikers in the NSL.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/penrith-could-play-host-to-vaccination-day-involving-the-entire-competition/news-story/0d5e751fb270ce78aa9468447aa50715