The NRL is set to increase team lists from 21 to 24 this season as the competition looks to combat potential COVID hurdles.
According to Penrith board member and SEN host Greg Alexander, the competition will move to add the extra names to the team sheet in the case that multiple players return a positive result from their pre-game COVID tests.
Alexander says players will undertake a COVID test three hours out from each game, with the additional players heading to the ground on standby.
If the team all return negative results, those additional players will be released to go and play NSW or Queensland Cup.
Alexander explained how he learned of the rule change on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I was at a board meeting yesterday out at Penrith,” Alexander said.
“During the board meeting Matt Cameron, our general manager, said the New South Wales Rugby League was in a hook-up with all 16 clubs and they were desperately trying to rearrange the competition.
“That’s because they were trying to align it with the NRL teams – the ruling from the NRL is that all players are tested three hours prior to kick-off, which means to stop any disruption to the game, clubs have to name 24 players.
“They have to have at least 20 players by kick-off, so they can release four players that might need to go off and play in Sydney or anywhere else to go and play NSW Cup.
“But, 24 need to be named and go to the ground.”
The competition is yet to officially announce the change.