Any unvaccinated Canberra Raiders face being segregated from those who have had the jab, despite the ACT government opting against creating a two-class society in the capital.
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They also face having their pay reduced if they're unable to travel for games in places like Melbourne, where the Victorian government has currently mandated professional athletes need to be fully vaccinated to be able to train or play in the state.
But Rugby League Players' Association chief executive Clint Newton warned against NRL clubs looking to sack unvaccinated players or staff given the landscape could look completely different when the season starts in March.
The AFL has made vaccination mandatory for all players and football staff, with clubs allowed to cut the pay of anyone who refuses to get the jab to 25 per cent of the minimum wage or sack them in mid May.
Newton said similar structures to the AFL could be adopted for the NRL, although he hoped firing players wasn't necessary.
He declined to say how many Raiders players were unvaccinated, but said there was good coverage across the NRL.
Raiders star Josh Papalii has previously said he wouldn't get vaccinated, while he and Joe Tapine had medical exemptions from receiving the influenza shot last year.
"Something that is currently in place right now may not be in three months' time," Newton said.
"That's why we're looking to slow down sometimes the decision-making process because in the event something changes before the start of the season yet a club may have chosen to terminate a player - that may not have been necessary."
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NRL Apollo protocols will come into effect on November 3, with different ones for the vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Vaccinated Raiders will have to adhere to ACT Health guidelines, which included wearing masks indoors - except when exercising - and adhering to the square metre regulations.
Anyone unvaccinated will have to undergo symptom and temperature checks when they arrive, and might have to use separate bathrooms and only use certain areas at Raiders HQ.
It's in stark contrast to the ACT, where vaccination rates are so high (92.3 per cent) the government has opted against imposing restrictions on unvaccinated people.
"At the moment we're not suggesting there's any cuts to players contracts, but you'd have to assume that's all going to be part of the discussion about how it impacts clubs and players," Newton said.
"Depending on how many matches they're unavailable, where they're playing we'll just have to come up with a position."