Newton stressed the importance of compassion and understanding when it came to the sensitive and complex topic.

The RLPA and NRL have had high-level talks around the future of the competition as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continued.

Vaccines were back on the NRL agenda in regards to crowds and the protocols for the 2022 season.

There's been reports vaccination passports could allow unrestricted crowds to return to the competition next year, while unvaccinated players might have to remain under tighter biosecurity protocols compared with those that have had the jab.

Newton warned against making vaccination a requirement of employment and said whatever framework was introduced needed to be agreed upon with the players.

Three Raiders players - Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine and Sia Soliola - were granted exemptions from having the influenza shot last year on medical grounds.

Papalii has already told The Canberra Times he wouldn't get the jab due to his medical history with vaccines, with both him and his daughter ending up in hospital following bad reactions.

What to do about players or club staff members who can't be vaccinated on medical grounds was just one part of the complex issue.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys also said there could be issues in regards to travelling overseas or even interstate.

"This isn't just a rugby league matter either. This is across all Australian sports," Newton said.

"That's why it's a big conversation that all of us should be coming together on and having a discussion about on behalf of our respective codes, but also on behalf of the sports industry as well.

"That's something we would certainly welcome, is codes and governing bodies coming together to discuss it.

"It'd be ideal if we could align on a policy or an approach that is supported across all the codes."

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He said the NRL had been supportive of the players' freedom of choice.

Newton also said it was important not to look at the situation in terms of right and wrong, but in understanding various situations and viewpoints.

He said the players' union would continue to educate their members and provide them with all the relevant scientific information.

When it came to deciding what additional protocols, if any, were imposed on unvaccinated players, the probability of transmission at the time would also be an important factor.

If there was little transmission in the community then low-level protocols would be needed.

"Vaccinations should not be a condition of employment and in our high-level discussions with the NRL they've been supportive when it comes to navigating through the vaccine discussion in providing freedom of choice," Newton said.

"This isn't a debate about what's right and wrong, it's about understanding people's different conditions and working through them with a level of compassion and understanding.

"This is a big conversation, but educating our members with accurate and objective information - including the safety data that's connected to vaccines - remains fundamental."

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.

Dragons squad: 1. Jack Bird, 2. Mathew Feagai, 3. Cody Ramsey, 4. Zac Lomax, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Adam Clune, 8. Blake Lawrie, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Josh McGuire, 11. Billy Burns, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Jack de Belin. Interchange: 14. Talatau Amone, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Jaiyden Hunt, 17. Kaide Ellis. Reserves: 18. Matthew Dufty, 19. Poasa Faamausili, 20. Jayden Sullivan, 21. Daniel Alvaro.