Peter V’landys says anti-vaxxers won’t halt NRL return

Peter V’landys says rugby league’s hyped May 28 return will not be threatened by the ongoing anti-vaxxer debate.

Nathan Peats, centre, trains with the Titans on Saturday after having a flu shot the previous day. Picture: AAP

Peter V’landys says rugby league’s hyped May 28 return will not be threatened by the ongoing anti-vaxxer debate, with the ARLC chairman also praising the “majority” of NRL players for supporting the flu shot.

Speaking to The Australian, V’landys said he expected the Queensland government to confirm as early as Monday that players who refuse to be vaccinated will be granted an exemption to play north of the Tweed.

The chairman also stressed those “handful” of footballers who refuse to be needled pose no greater risk to the community than anyone else who chooses not to get the shot. Yet if the Queensland government stands firm on a decision to ban players who refuse to be vaccinated, V’landys said it would not impact on the NRL season resuming as planned.

“I think the Queensland government will grant the waiver,” he said. “But if not, those (unvaccinated) players will be stood down.

“Right now, there are only two players in Queensland and a handful of others in NSW.

“So it’s only a few players and of those, some have adverse reactions to the flu shot.

“When it comes to anti-vaxxers, I think there is maybe only three or four of them. And when you look at the community overall, it would be around the same percentage.”

As part of the Project Apollo blueprint to return on May 28, the NRL informed the Queensland government all players and staff would receive the flu vaccination.

However, the code was then confronted by more than 10 players who refused to receive the vaccination, prompting the game to introduce a waiver that was agreed to by the NSW government, but rejected up north.

Currently, only two Queensland players have refused a flu injection — Gold Coast Titans duo Bryce Cartwright and Brian Kelly.

However, a small group of players based in NSW could also be banned from playing games in Queensland.

V’landys said those who refused the flu shot were not putting the community at greater risk of illness, but themselves.

“If you don’t get vaccinated, you’re only exposing yourself,” V’landys said. “So this isn’t a health issue in relation to the community. This is about the health of the player. We want them to get vaccinated because if you get coronavirus in addition to the flu, it’s quite serious. Also, if players contract flu symptoms, they are going to be stood down.

“They are going to be tested (for coronavirus). So it’s all about the individual player and their safety — not anyone else.”

While it has been suggested NRL players are losing the support of Australian sports fans, V’landys suggested the group should actually be praised for its overwhelming support of the vaccination process.

“Because the majority of players have gone immediately and got a flu shot,” he said.

“There was no delay. We have 97 per cent of the playing group vaccinated and instead we’re concentrating on the negative.

“You’re talking about 3 per cent of players. Actually it would be less now given players (Nathan Peats and Marty Taupau) have received their flu shots.”

Meanwhile, star Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary is set to avoid a match suspension for his social distancing slip-up.

The likes of Phil Gould have called for Cleary to be banned for the entire season but it is understood the NRL is instead likely to increase the 22-year-old’s fine and give him another suspended match ban.

If that is the case, Cleary will be free to play when the NRL returns later this month.

It is understood a suitable punishment is still being debated at the highest levels but a decision is expected to be made on Monday.

He was initially fined $10,000 (60 per cent was suspended) and received a suspended one-game ban for his actions.

Cleary was then issued with an amended breach notice when a TikTok video emerged of him dancing with the girls, which he had failed to mention when the NRL first interviewed him.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH