It'll be a very interesting couple of months. IIRC by the last report we had the lowest vax rate of any club so there could be some sackings this off season. Hopefully it's complaceny rather than outright refusal.
just mirroring the state we live in.
the one they were concerned about was Haas (he recently endorsed some anti-vaccination messages on his social-media account.) ... but he has agreed to be vaccinated
the reports are that more than 70% of our players have had at least one COVID shit
Because we train at our private high performance center, we're not under the same COVID conditions of the Sydney clubs that use public facilities
Ikin says:
“That’s not accurate ... we won’t have a problem,” Ikin said of suggestions some Brisbane players are anti-vaxxers.
“We want everyone fully vaxxed by the time the season starts.
“There won’t be an issue at the Broncos.
“Since the Broncos have gone on a break, there was a bit of complacency (towards Covid shots) because the players were disconnected from the club, but as we edge back closer to training, the communications we’ve had with them have all been positive.
“We have communicated what is potentially coming and what is happening in other sports around the world. We don’t want any issues by the time we get back to football next year so let’s get this done now.
“It’s been very conciliatory. It’s been about framing-up what is potentially coming our way in our industry and reinforcing to the players where to get the vaccinations done, when to do it and why it’s important.
“There’s been no big stick that has been waved, but our message has been really strong and clear as we get back towards players returning to training.”
“Our numbers in terms of players fully vaccinated are growing and we are heading in exactly the direction we need to be,” Ikin said.
“If I’m being honest, our living conditions for all Queenslanders have made us a bit slower to act because unlike our southern neighbours, we haven’t been living in lockdown.
“From the club’s perspective, we’ve seen what’s happened in other sports around the world and we expect the same thing in some way, shape or form to find its way into the NRL.”
DD says:
“I’m expecting all our players and staff to be fully vaxxed by the start of the season,” he said.
“It’s the reality of everything I’m hearing and seeing with government protocols ... it’s going to be very challenging to operate in the NRL industry without vaccination.
“We have had constant two-way dialogue with our playing group and the medical experts we have on staff.
“Everyone in society has been challenged over the last 18 months and sport and the Broncos are no different.
“I’ve been very impressed at the level of maturity and the challenges our players and staff have had and their understanding of the Covid situation.
“They have taken in the education that has been provided around vaccinations.
“I don’t believe we will have any issues.”