Wests Tigers players sent for COVID tests

Wests Tigers players David Nofoaluma and Josh Aloiai have been sent for COVID-19 tests as they live in so-called hotspots in southwest Sydney.

Both players left Tigers training before teammates on Thursday, after being ordered by the NRL to undergo checks ahead of Friday night’s NRL clash with Brisbane.

Neither of the pair were showing any symptoms, and they are not believed to have attended any of the venues so far listed by the NSW Government.

Tigers assistant Brett Hodgson has also been sent for tests, given he too lives in the Campbelltown area.

Several rival NRL teams are also believed to have some players living in the Campbelltown and Liverpool areas.

“They’re following protocols and have gone straight for testing … I’m sure those things will happen a lot over a period of time,” West Tigers coach Michael Maguire said.

“We understand the world we’re living in at the moment and we have to do due diligence to make sure everyone is safe.

“Once we heard they had to go do that the boys jumped in their cars and did the test.”

Test results will likely be available on Thursday afternoon.

Unlike in the AFL, NRL players are not ordinarily required to undergo tests before matches.

It comes as the NRL weighs up whether they will have to move players away from their homes if they live in the Macarthur or Liverpool areas.

The league are currently seeking an exemption from the Queensland government to allow those players into the state for matches, given all other Campbelltown and Liverpool residents must undergo two weeks quarantine if they want to enter Queensland.

The NRL and Wests Tigers are also considering what to do with the club’s July 31 home game at Campbelltown.

It appears most likely it will be moved to Bankwest Stadium, with Leichhardt Oval likely unavailable.

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