Newcastle's entire NRL squad and training staff have been sent for COVID-19 tests and ordered to self-isolate by the club.
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As of Monday night, the Knights had no positive cases, but had instead recommended that all players and staff undergo tests and await a negative result due to growing clusters in the Newcastle region.
No players are understood to have attended the Argyle House pub or any other venues of concern, but the club said it wanted to take a proactive approach in case any of the squad had been close contacts.
The club is hopeful of returning to training as soon as possible before players and staff go on their Christmas break next Monday.
It comes as the Wests Tigers confirmed they will return to training on Wednesday after a trainer tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
All players and staff were sent for tests when training was cancelled on Thursday due to the fact they had been close contacts.
While Manly's Josh Aloiai had tested positive to COVID-19 during the off-season to force the cancellation of his boxing match with ex-Sharks prop Paul Gallen, this was the first example of a positive case in an NRL training environment.
Both the trainer and all the players were fully vaccinated.
The Tigers players all returned negative tests after being ordered into isolation amid fears the virus could have spread among the rest of Michael Maguire's squad.
The positive case and the subsequent disruption means the Tigers may now opt to extend their pre-season into next week.
The club had originally planned to give players time off from Friday, but the impact on the schedule because of the positive case may push their training into Christmas week.
Under current NRL protocols, players who are fully vaccinated can live normal lives, while those who are yet to get double jabbed remain subject to strict biosecurity guidelines.
Players still have to undergo regular COVID-19 testing to keep on top of any potential outbreak, but only a handful of players are yet to get vaccinated.
The NRL are still yet to confirm their COVID protocols for the 2022 season, but in most other sports players have been sidelined and put into isolation.
Both cricket's Sheffield Shield and the A-League have followed that approach over the last few weeks.
Australian Associated Press
