Dragons player Gerard Beale has apologised for Covid breach

Gerard Beale sorry for Covid breach as it emerged teammates Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro could be sidelined for up to a month.

One of the Dragons’ Dirty Dozen, Matt Dufty, at training on Monday Picture: Toby Zerna

Gerard Beale has become the first current St George Illawarra player to issue a public apology for his decision to attend a house party at the home of former teammate Paul Vaughan and more are expected to follow his lead in the next 24 hours as the Dragons prepare to relocate to Brisbane without Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro.

Beale posted a message on his Instagram page in which he apologised to the Dragons board, sponsors, fans, the NRL community and the NSW government for his decision to breach biosecurity protocols and health guidelines.

“I am deeply disappointed in my decision making and actions that occurred last weekend, July 3,” he wrote.

“I should have respect and honoured the biosecurity rules that are in place to protect us. Instead, I made a disrespectful and stupid decision.

“I am extremely sorry for my actions. It’s important I take ownership of this mistake and learn from this experience. I hope I can rebuild the trust and your respect in the near future.”

Beale’s public mea culpa is expected to be the first of many. It is understood some players will follow Beale’s lead and take to social media to apologise for their actions.

Others have filmed their apologies and the expectation is that they will be shared on the club website.The show of remorse came as it emerged that teammates Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro could be sidelined for up to a month unless they agree to sign statements relating to their involvement in BBQ-gate.

Lomax and Alvaro are the only members of the Dragons’ so-called dirty dozen who have refused to sign the documents, meaning they remain frozen out of the club.

The remaining 10 players involved in a house party returned to training on Monday morning and have been cleared to join their teammates when the squad relocates to southeast Queensland on Wednesday.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo indicated on Monday that Alvaro and Lomax would spend 14 days in a Covid hold under current conditions and then face the prospect of another 14 days in quarantine when they join their teammates in Queensland.

“In the situation for the Dragons, there is a Covid hold based on that particular breach,” Abdo said.

“That is a 14-day period. We worked with the club on how we could assist the players and the club by reducing that Covid hold and that required a number of things.

“Some of it was confirming information they had already provided to us in writing, some of it related to testing and other elements.

“The 10 that completed it will form part of the bubble – they will travel up on Wednesday. Those that haven’t, won’t. I guess it is a matter for the club and us down the track on what if any opportunity may arise to get them and other players in the bubble at a later stage.

“That is not a priority for us at the moment.”

It is understood Lomax and Alvaro opted not to sign the statement on legal advice. The remaining 10 players will serve one-game suspensions over the coming month, the Dragons given the option of staggering the bans so they could continue to field a competitive side.

“Once you are off the Covid hold they are obviously free to play. but we now have a situation where their team is located in another state with the border closed,” Abdo said.

“So there will need to be a mechanism for them like any other player that would enter the bubble, to quarantine before they rejoin the bubble.

“You have to house them at a separate facility and we will have to work through all of those details with the club. There will have to be separate arrangements made for any players that are going to re-enter the bubble.

“They have to be worked through the quarantine system which will be separate to those who have already begun that process.

“Part of our planning is figuring out how we could create a separate quarantine facility which then effectively transfuses people into the existing bubble that he teams will be under.”