Bubble trouble: Eels may only have 17 eligible players for Magic Round

Suspensions to Marata Niukore and Dylan Brown, as well as a concussion to Reed Mahoney, means the Eels may only have 14 of their 17 players available from last week’s win against the Sydney Roosters.

Even if Mahoney passes the concussion protocols, the Eels will need to find two more players for Sunday’s game against the Warriors in Brisbane if the NRL doesn’t ease restrictions. Nathan Brown and Waqa Blake are in line to return from injury but are no guarantee to both play. The Eels will be without at least Dylan Brown , with Reed Mahoney racing the clock to overcome concussion for Sunday’s clash with the Warriors.Wiremu Greig, Joey Lussick, Michael Oldfield, Jordan Rankin, Ray Stone, Will Penisini are all in the top 30 and played NSW Cup on Friday night. Jakob Arthur, Nathaniel Roache and Sea Russell are on development contracts and all played, too.

The reason the NRL put players back in the bubble was to ensure that Magic Round would continue. The governing body wants to be able to tell the Queensland government, in the case of borders shutting, that all players had been in a bubble and would be able to fly in and out to play.“At the moment they will be [staying in a bubble],” Annesley said. “It is assessed daily and it will depend on our biosecurity advice and of course we’re trying to get 16 teams into Queensland next week.

“Whether it will be in place until after Magic Round or not, I don’t know at this stage. There are daily decisions being made. If there are any more cases then everything changes again. If they played they can’t go back into the bubble until the level-three restrictions are reduced. I don’t know exactly when that will be.”

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Match Highlights: Eels v RoostersThe Eels and Roosters face off during Round 9 of the 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership
Source: NRL - 🏆 19. / 59 Read more »

Eels get 'lucky' as Rooster rushed to hospitalThe NRL may have a few questions to answer... 😳 9WWOS Nothing in it
Source: wwos - 🏆 12. / 68 Read more »

‘They have to face the consequences’: Rival clubs urge NRL to punish EelsCOVID bubble restrictions have left Parramatta facing the prospect of having just 16 eligible players for Magic Round after the club ignored a warning not to field fringe players in NSW Cup | MichaelChammas SMHsport MichaelChammas SMHsport lend us a couple then .. MichaelChammas SMHsport Short memory of two players being lent to struggling warriors.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

Eels lock up Brown as deadlines approach for Moses, Matterson✍ Nathan Brown has re-signed with TheParraEels, as deadlines approach for Mitch Moses and Ryan Matterson. Story 👉
Source: NRL - 🏆 19. / 59 Read more »

NRL denies Parramatta’s request for bubble exemptionThe Eels’ preparations for Sunday’s Magic Round clash against New Zealand is in disarray with the NRL refusing to budge on restrictions that prohibits certain players rejoining the squad | MichaelChammas SMHsport
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »