Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly hinted at a major national policy shift with insider information slipped to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The Rabbitohs are preparing for their blockbuster with bitter rivals Sydney Roosters on Friday night as part of the grand re-opening of Allianz Stadium — and they may be about to drop a massive team selection bombshell on the back of a tip-off from the prime minister.
South Sydney star Damien Cook has been ruled out of the clash after returning a positive Covid test on Saturday morning.
A follow-up PCR test confirmed Cook will not play until the finals series.
However, that may change dramatically with The Sydney Morning Herald reporting Albanese has given the club information to suggest the mandatory seven-day isolation period for a positive Covid test will be slashed to just five days.
The National Cabinet will reportedly discuss the policy shift when it meets on Wednesday.
That change would allow Cook to play in the grudge match, and the club may even pre-empt the National Cabinet’s decision by selecting him in their team when it is announced on Tuesday.
If the isolation period is slashed to five-days, Cook will be out of isolation and able to train with the team as early as Thursday.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet last month also made a public call for the isolation period for people infected with Covid to be reduced to five days.
Albanese attended the Rabbitohs’ game against North Queensland on Saturday night.
The news of Cook’s positive Covid test was received as a hammer blow for the Rabbitohs when it was first revealed on Saturday.
Fox League commentator Warren Smith noted the importance of Cook in the Rabbitohs’ fight with the Broncos and Raiders for the final spot in the top eight.
“A massive blow for the Rabbitohs in that clash tonight and if we look ahead to six days down the track,” Warren Smith said.
“It is only six days away the opening of the brand new Allianz Stadium. That is a huge blow for the Rabbitohs.”
