Fresh doubts over the NRL season as superstar Latrell Mitchell shows coronavirus symptoms and is sent for tests following camping trip that broke isolation rules
- Four South Sydney Rabbitohs were sent home after being tested for COVID-19
- Souths coach Wayne Bennett said the club were following NRL testing controls
- Players get results on Tuesday with Bennett hopeful they will return to training
- Mitchell was recently fined $20,000 for flouting coronavirus distancing rules
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Four South Sydney Rabbitohs stars including Latrell Mitchell have been sent home from training over coronavirus fears.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett confirmed the four players were showing flu-like symptoms and were turned away from training as a precaution on Monday morning.
Mitchell and three other Rabbitohs weren't allowed into the club's training area after being screened by the South Sydney doctor and were sent home after being tested for the deadly disease.
Latrell Mitchell is among four South Sydney Rabbitohs players who have been tested for coronavirus after showing flu-like symptoms
South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said the players were following the NRL rules and hoped to have them fit at training on Tuesday
Bennett told The Sydney Morning Herald the club was following the NRL rules and hoped to have the players back training on Tuesday.
'We are all following protocols. We all want to be back playing footy and we all understand what it is going to take - there wasn't one complaint today,' he said.
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'The doctor questioned them upon entering the training facility and our medical staff were there with doctors to undergo screening. They were asked all questions about whether they had a sore throat, runny nose or have been coughing.
'If they had one of those symptoms in the last 24 hours we sent them straight off to be tested for coronavirus. We should have the results back by tomorrow morning. If they are symptom free they'll be fine and back in with everyone else. If they are positive, then they never entered our facility.'
Mitchell (pictured in action for the Rabbitohs in March) was recently fined $20,000 for flouting coronavirus social distancing rules on a camping trip on the NSW mid-north coast
NRL stars Josh Addo Carr and Tyrone Roberts-Davis were with Mitchell in a group of 12 people on the camping trip, with concerns for the health of the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights playing groups after both men attended training on Monday
The news comes days after Mitchell was fined $20,000 for flouting social distancing sanctions and taking part in a 12-man camping trip on the NSW mid-north coast.
NRL clubs have adopted COVID-19 testing protocols for players as the league aims for a May 28 season reboot, with all teams returning to training on Monday.
Fellow NRL stars Josh Addo Carr and Tyrone Roberts-Davis were with Mitchell on the camping trip, with concerns for the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights playing groups after both attended training.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson was also absent from training on Monday after being tested for coronavirus.
The three-time premiership winning coach opted to see a doctor instead of risk infecting his players after suffering a sore throat.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson was tested for coronavirus on Monday after waking with a sore throat. He did not attend training with his team
ARLC commissioner Wayne Pearce said there will be no excuses for players flouting the rules after all teams underwent a virus briefing before training on Monday.
'I'd be very disappointed if we have any players that deliberately breach the rules,' he told 9News.
'Players will be absolutely clear on what the standards and protocols are.'
- NRL 2020: Latrell MItchell tested for coronavirus after being turned away from South Sydney Rabbitohs training
- Nine News Sydney on Twitter: "A star NRL coach has also been forced to undergo a #COVID19 test, after he felt unwell on the day the players were set to head back into the clubs. @Danny_Weidler #9News¿ https://t.co/30FizWpVRN"
