The NRL could face the prospect of increasing Origin squad sizes in 2022 amid a new COVID testing regime.
Home and away team lists are growing from 21 to 24 this season with players set to take a rapid antigen test three hours before each game, with 20 players remaining for kick-off in case of any positive results.
With a similar testing regime likely for Origin, Panthers board member and SEN host Greg Alexander discussed the prospect of Origin squad sizes increasing from their current size of 18.
“There would have to be a possibility (of increasing squads) if you’re doing a test three hours out,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“If you’re in a camp for seven or eight days and you’ve been out and about, at training, and you haven’t been isolated from everyone.
“It’ll be interesting to see how it works. I know there was a call, I did read a story a couple of weeks ago where some club CEOs said, ‘Do some players need to be in camp as long as they are?’.
“We’ll see what happens with all of that, camp dates were sent to us yesterday and at the moment camp dates are as normal.
“In terms of how many players you carry in your squad … if you’re testing three hours before a game anything could happen.”
SEN host Andrew Voss expects that the states may have to carry 24 players – the same number as NRL clubs – to avoid any potential hurdles.
“Expensive exercise, as they’re not able to have roommates and now they’ll have to have bigger squads,” Voss said.
“That’s an expensive exercise, going to Perth, you might almost have to have 24 players (in a squad).”
The NRL is yet to officially announce any changes to squad sizes for the 2022 season.