NRL to request COVID-19 vaccine priority for players

The NRL will approach the federal government with a request for players to jump the COVID-19 vaccine queue to give the New Zealand Warriors the best chance of hosting home games this season.

ARL Commissioner Peter V’landys confirmed the NRL would be putting a case to the government for players to be vaccinated after health workers and at-risk individuals.

ARL Commissioner Peter V’landys confirmed the NRL would be putting a case to the government for players to be vaccinated after health workers and at-risk individuals.Credit:NRL Photos

“I understand what Cricket Australia is trying to do, they’re trying to go for a tour and, and naturally, they want to protect the health of their players so I’ve got nothing against what they’ve tried to do,” V’landys said. “We want Australian players going over to New Zealand as well.”

The Warriors have set up camp in Tamworth on January 3 ahead of the 2021 season are set to move to the Central Coast until April 4, four rounds into this year’s season.

The NRL is hoping the Warriors will be able to host the Manly Sea Eagles at Mt Smart Stadium for round five with Andrew Abdo describing a home game for the New Zealand side a “priority” for the governing body.

The Warriors have not hosted a game in New Zealand since round 24 of the 2019 season on August 30, after they were forced to remain on NSW’s Central Coast during the 2020 season for over 150 days due to border closures.

Players will also still be under protocols this year, but it will be much less restrictive than last year with no bubble due to the infection rate being so low in the general community.

Last year, NRL players were put in one of the strictest biosecurity bubbles in Australian sport which allowed the game to become the first contact sport to resume worldwide in May.

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