Queensland forward Jai Arrow has been banned from next Wednesday night’s State of Origin series finale after breaching the NRL’s COVID-19 biosecurity protocols.
Key points:
- The NRL alleges Arrow “allowed an unregistered guest” into the Maroons’ team hotel
- Arrow has since been isolated from the Maroons squad and will leave the team camp to commence 14 days home isolation
- The sanction follows the punishment handed to St George Illawarra players for breaching protocols
Arrow has been issued with a breach notice, which also includes a $35,000 fine, with the NRL alleging he “allowed an unregistered guest” into the Maroons’ team hotel on the Gold Coast.
The State of Origin ban is part of a two-match suspension.
The NRL said Arrow had since been isolated from the squad and would leave the camp to commence 14 days of home isolation.
The league said it “notified Queensland Health as soon as it was made aware of the breach”.
“In our view, this is a clear breach of our biosecurity protocols,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in a statement.
“Jai has been placed into isolation from the squad and will return home to Sydney.
“There are no excuses for breaching the protocols, they are our licence to continue playing — players have to comply, or we will all face the consequences.
Arrow has five working days to respond to the breach notice, with the NRL saying it would “offer him wellbeing support”.
The NRL’s decision follows the sanctions it handed out to St George Illawarra players for breaching the league’s biosecurity guidelines by attending a party hosted by Dragons forward Paul Vaughan last weekend.
Thirteen Dragons players, including Vaughan, were fined a combined $305,000 by the NRL.
The Dragons took further action by terminating Vaughan’s contract earlier this week.
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