Star Canterbury Bulldogs trio facing disciplinary action for defying NRL directive
A stunned Canterbury chairman John Khoury says he is “not happy” after only finding out about the Covid breach by three Bulldogs players on Friday morning.
Khoury revealed that he woke to a message that was left late on Thursday night revealing that Dylan Napa, Brandon Wakeham and Aaron Schoupp
were at The Royal Hotel in Bondi last Sunday, which was attended by a person who has tested positive to Covid.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys says there is “zero” chance of the entire NRL competition being shut down due to the breach.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that the NRL was only notified at about 8.30pm on Thursday night after the governing body’s biosecurity experts were alerted.
It is understood NSW Health had contacted the players to tell them that they had been in close contact with a COVID positive after tracking them down via their QR code.
That swung the Project Apollo team into action to determine what immediate action needed to be taken before a media release was issued at 11.30pm.
Brandon Wakeham and Aaron Schoupp are among the trio. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
The three Bulldogs stars are facing disciplinary action and have been ordered to self-isolate and have undergone Covid tests.
It is expected the players will be stood down from training and playing for 14 days.
“I just found out this morning if I am brutally honest,” Khoury said.
“I am not happy and I am just asking questions as we speak.
“I am not going to make any further statement until I get the facts.”
The NRL has also had to disinfect the Bulldogs entire training facilities.
Napa, Wakeman and Schoupp defied an NRL directive for players not to attend restaurants or bars in the Waverley Local Government area and now face disciplinary action.
V’landys said Napa had already returned a negative Covid test result and officials were still waiting on the two other results.
Asked if there was any chance it could close down the entire NRL competition moving forward, V’landys was adamant: “No. Zero.
Aaron Schoupp and his Bulldogs teammates are isolating. Picture: Getty Images
“Because it is only one club. It is only the Bulldogs. Napa has already done one test and it has come back negative. We are still waiting for the other tests.
“I don’t think it is going to have any affect at this stage.
“Naturally we are being cautious and we have isolated the Bulldogs and we have gone into grounds and disinfected it and done everything we have to.”
V’landys stressed the players used their QR code, so on face value it appears they have made an innocent blunder.
V’landys said he did not find out about the incident until about 9pm on Thursday night and the NRL moved swiftly.
“Naturally, we are investigating it and they were given clear directions not to frequent that local government area because it was a hotspot and they were specifically not allowed to go to restaurants, bars, etc,” V’landys said.
“But in saying that they have to be given due process and natural justice so we will just wait until they are given that opportunity.
“The positive is they used their QR codes, so there it is not as though they were wilfully (breaking the rules).
Dylan Napa has already returned a negative Covid test. Picture: Alix Sweeney
“And what I want to stress at all times is that the players have been magnificent.
“In the last year they showed how conscientious and professional they were. I don’t want one incident to take away from that effort.”
The Bulldogs next game is against Manly on Saturday week, July 3.
The NRL released the following statement late on Thursday night.
“The remainder of the Bulldogs squad will not train until the test results of the three players are known,” a spokesman said.
“The players have not been in contact with representatives from any other club nor does it impact any State of Origin player.
“The NRL issued a clear directive to all Sydney based clubs on 17 June mandating that players and staff were not to attend any restaurants, clubs or bars in the Waverley Local Government area.
“All clubs in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast areas were placed on Level 3+ Biosecurity Protocols from Tuesday evening and are not permitted to leave home except to train or access essential services.
“The NRL will continue to seek advice from its biosecurity experts and NSW Health to ensure no risk to other teams or the community.
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