The Canberra Raiders enforcer had a very bad reaction to an influenza shot when he was young, spending several weeks in hospital as a result.

And his daughter has had the same experience since.

It's why Papalii was one of three Raiders who got Queensland government exemptions from having the flu shot last year when the NRL first resumed following the COVID-19 shutdown of the competition.

Fellow Raiders forwards Sia Soliola and Joe Tapine were in a similar boat and were also granted exemptions from having the injection, which had been agreed to as part of the biosecurity protocols.

Papalii said he wasn't against anyone else getting vaccinated, it was just his personal experience that formed the basis of his decision making.

There's been reports NRL fans could need a vaccination passport next year to attend games once most of Australia has had the chance to have a COVID shot.

There were also reports players who don't get vaccinated against the coronavirus would need to stay under the strict same strict protocols the players, families and staff were currently living under in Queensland.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys told the Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday it was too soon for the NRL to make those decisions, but he admitted unvaccinated players could have troubles crossing borders - whether that's to play in New Zealand or even in states like Queensland or Victoria.

V'landys also said the NRL wouldn't be forcing players to be vaccinated.

Papalii said he would continue to live under strict biosecurity protocols if he had to.

"I guess I'll probably have to if I don't get the COVID shot. If I have to be in the bubble then so be it, but I definitely won't be getting that," he said.

"I've got nothing against anyone else getting it. Everyone's entitled to making their own decisions. It just doesn't work for some and I'm just part of that some."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Papalii's Raiders play St George Illawarra this week in a game crucial to both teams' finals hopes.

They both sit outside the eight on points differential with just five rounds remaining.

It will go ahead on the Gold Coast on Friday night with the NRL set to expand their agreement with the Queensland government beyond playing all games at Lang Park during the lockdown.

Concerns over the playing surface of the Brisbane venue had the NRL looking to add the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to their arsenal.

"We're playing the Dragons at the same time at [the Gold Coast]," Raiders chief executive Don Furner said.

"We've just got certainty week to week, but that's as good as we can get at the moment, which is fine."

NRL ROUND 21

Friday: Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons on the Gold Coast, 6pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Matt Timoko, 5. Harley Smith-Shields, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Corey Harawira-Naera, 16. Emre Guler, 17. Elijah Anderson. Reserves: 18. Sia Soliola, 19. Dunamis Lui, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Siliva Havili.