Any unvaccinated Canberra Raiders players can breathe a sigh of relief - the club will stand by them.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the decision not to be fully immunised against the coronavirus could come at a cost with up to six regular season games potentially off limits.
That could see their wages cut by 25 per cent - given that's how much of the season they could miss.
The Queensland government's decision on Tuesday to follow Victoria's lead and legislate that you need to be fully vaccinated to enter one of their stadiums means the Raiders five games in the Banana State - two at Brisbane's Lang Park, the Gold Coast, Redcliffe and Townsville - adds to their game against the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne as no go zones for those who refuse to get double jabbed.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner said they had "a couple" of players currently unvaccinated in their squad, who they would continue to work with.
But he said they wouldn't be sacking anyone who refused to be vaccinated.
Due to Canberra's high levels of vaccination - more than 95 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated - the ACT government won't be imposing any additional restrictions on unvaccinated people.
But the NRL has introduced its own Apollo protocols, which will essentially mean any player who doesn't get vaccinated will enter into their own private lockdown - with restaurants, bars and cafes off limits, and no visitors allowed to their home.
Raiders prop Josh Papalii has previously said he wouldn't get the vaccine, while last year both he and Joe Tapine were given medical exemptions from having the influenza shot - which was required to play in Queensland during the 2020 season.
A separate medical exemption would be required for the COVID-19 vaccine.
If Papalii does opt against getting jabbed then he could also be unable to play for Queensland in State of Origin III at Lang Park, while the second game of the series could also be a concern given it will be played in Perth.
"Yeah we will [stand by them]. Not from this club [is there any thought of tearing up contracts]," Furner said.
"It's easier for them if they get vaccinated. They can travel into Queensland and play or they can travel into Victoria and play.
"It's a lot more difficult for anybody in society who isn't going to be vaxxed. We'll sit down and explain that to them and leave the decision with them."
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
The NRL's currently working on a policy for how players' wages would be affected if they're unable to play games due to their vaccination status.
Having a sliding scale depending on how many games were missed was one option, with the AFL's mandatory vaccination policy also potentially providing some inspiration.
The AFL has made vaccination mandatory for all staff and players because most of their teams are based in Victoria, where the government has made it compulsory for professional athletes to be double jabbed in order to train or play.
That policy's open ended, meaning it could last all of next season.
Similarly with the Queensland government's policy announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
"People want to be able to go to a music festival, a stadium, a cafe or a restaurant and know the people who are around them are fully vaccinated and it's safe for their family to go to these venues," she said.
"These rules will come in on December 17 when we hit that 80 per cent double dosed.
"This is an important step in keeping our freedoms."
Furner said there was still plenty of time before the start of the season for any players to get vaccinated if they wanted to.
But then their status could have an almost immediate impact, with the Raiders set to travel to Townsville to face the North Queensland Cowboys in round two.
They also play in Queensland in round eight (NZ Warriors), round 10 (Cronulla), round 14 (Brisbane) and round 20 (Gold Coast), while facing the Storm in Melbourne in round 18.
The Raiders' young players returned for pre-season testing on Monday, while the senior players will begin on November 19.
"We're working through with a couple that have just come back to town and we're working through with those players," Furner said.
"Really D-day comes March in terms of having to travel to Victoria and Queensland, but I think we'll have it resolved well before that."
RAIDERS 2022 DRAW
ROUND 1: Raiders v Sharks at Canberra Stadium, Friday, March 11, 6pm
ROUND 2: Cowboys v Raiders at Townsville, Saturday, March 19, 7.35pm
ROUND 3: Raiders v Titans at Canberra Stadium, Saturday, March 26, 7.35pm
ROUND 4: Sea Eagles v Raiders at Mudgee, Saturday, April 2, 5.30pm
ROUND 5: Raiders v Storm at Wagga Wagga, Saturday, April 9, 3pm
ROUND 6: Raiders v Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, Thursday, April 14, 7.50pm
ROUND 7: Panthers v Raiders at Penrith Stadium, Sunday, April 24, 4.05pm
ROUND 8: Warriors v Raiders at Redcliffe, Saturday, April 30, 3pm
ROUND 9: Raiders v Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium, Friday, May 6, 6pm
ROUND 10: Sharks v Raiders at Lang Park, Sunday, May 15, 1.50pm (Magic Round)
ROUND 11: Rabbitohs v Raiders at Dubbo, Sunday, May 22, 2pm
ROUND 12: Raiders v Eels at Canberra Stadium, Sunday, May 29, 4.05pm
ROUND 13: Raiders v Roosters at Canberra Stadium, Sunday, June 5, 4.05pm
ROUND 14: Broncos v Raiders at Lang Park, Saturday, June 11, 7.35pm
ROUND 15: Raiders v Knights at Canberra Stadium, Sunday, June 19, 2pm
ROUND 16: Dragons v Raiders at Wollongong, Sunday, July 3, 4.05pm
ROUND 17: BYE
ROUND 18: Storm v Raiders at Melbourne, Sunday, July 17, 4.05pm
ROUND 19: Raiders v Warriors at Canberra Stadium, Saturday, July 23, 3pm
ROUND 20: Titans v Raiders at Gold Coast, Saturday, July 30, 3pm
ROUND 21: Raiders v Panthers at Canberra Stadium, Saturday, August 6, 5.30pm
ROUND 22: Raiders v Dragons at Canberra Stadium, Sunday, August 14, 2pm
ROUND 23: Knights v Raiders at Newcastle, Sunday, August 21, 4.05pm
ROUND 24: Raiders v Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium, Saturday, August 27, 3pm
ROUND 25: Tigers v Raiders at Leichhardt, Sunday, September 4, 4pm.