Why Zac Lomax could be sidelined for a month should he refuse to sign a sworn statement about Paul Vaughan’s BBQ.Credit:Getty
Twelve NRL clubs will flee Greater Sydney and the latest COVID-19 outbreak to bebase themselves in south-east Queensland for at least the next month to keep the competition going.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said if Lomax and Alvaro failed to sign the required paperwork,they would be required to quarantine for a further two weeks in Queensland before rejoining their teammates.
“That was their call to make[not to sign],” Abdo said on Monday. “In the situation of the Dragons,there was a COVID hold based on that particular breach,which was a 14-day period.
“We worked with the club on how we could potentially assist the players and the club by reducing that COVID hold,and that required a number of things,[including] confirming information already provided to us in writing,and some related to testing and other elements.
The Dragons will strike a deal that will allow them to field a competitive team against Manly.Credit:NRL photos
“Ten of them have completed that and will[rejoin] the bubble and travel up on Wednesday. Those who haven’t won’t.
“Then I guess it’s a matter for club and us down the track on what,if any,opportunity may arise to get them and other players into the bubble at a later stage.”
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Lomax is one of the Dragons’ best players and is ready to resume playing after a thumb injury. His brother Hayden is a contracted St George Illawarra player,and even though he never attended Vaughan’s party,has also been excluded from the club’s biosecurity bubble because he lives with Zac.
The Dragons at least had some reinforcements with Warriors prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown arriving on Monday on a three-match deal.
“We have worked with the Warriors in recent days to make this happen and wish to thank them for their cooperation in allowing us to sign Jamayne,” Dragons general manager of football Ben Haran said.
“It’s an added benefit for the Warriors that we can provide Jamayne with game time he might not have seen otherwise over the coming period.”
Abdo said the Dragons’ house party,along withthe Bulldogs’ ‘Bondi Five’ and Jai Arrow’sQueensland Origin biosecurity breach meant the players knew they had to be on their best behaviour once north of the Tweed.
There will also be no shortage of COVID cops,or what Abdo preferred to call “biosecurity liaison officers”.
“I think everyone understands what is at stake now. Everyone understands the responsibility we have and just how difficult and important the next couple of weeks are for us,” Abdo said.
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