Manly players with even the slightest cold symptoms will be urged to stay home as the club returns to training amid the northern beaches’ COVID cluster.
All 16 NRL clubs will go back to training this week, with players preparing to kick-off 2021 under a COVID cloud.
The NRL are still maintaining a wait-and-see strategy, ready to dial up their protocols if required to minimise risk two months out from the season.
Of the Sydney-based NRL clubs, the Sea Eagles are by far the most affected for their Monday return.
Their North Narrabeen training base is located marginally within the lockdown zone, meaning some players must travel in and out of the hotspot.
They will be able to do so under exemptions created for those who cannot work from home, but the club still isn’t taking the threat lightly.
“Each and every player and staff member has undertaken a COVID test in recent days and received a negative result,” Manly chief executive Stephen Humphreys told AAP.
“Anyone with even the slightest of symptoms will stay away from training in isolation until a further negative COVID test is returned.
“Everyone will be temperature checked on arrival to training and the highest level of personal and facilities hygiene will be maintained at all times.”
Other NRL players who live in the locked-down zone but play for other clubs will also still be able to travel to and from training each day.
It comes as the Warriors touched down in Australia for another stint in the country, set to stay until at least April before they hope to host Manly in round five.
After having their training split between an Australian and New Zealand group before Christmas, they will unite in for their first session in Tamworth on Monday.