Sutton to self-isolate after COVID-19 scare

Leading NRL referee Gerrard Sutton has tested negative to coronavirus but is set to miss the next two weeks of play as he prepares to self-isolate.

Sutton has a child who attends Camden High School, where a positive test was recorded this week.

As a result, he is expected to be stood down by the NRL after officiating in Thursday's Panthers-Rabbitohs clash at Kogarah.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley confirmed Sutton will be required to self-isolate but is adamant no players or other officials are at any risk of contracting COVID-19 given Sutton himself has already been cleared.

"There is no likelihood of players being exposed and there is no possibility that the players that played on Thursday under Gerry Sutton can be infected," Annesley told NRL.com.

The NRL is waiting to be guided on the situation by its bio-security experts, but it is expected that Sutton will be unavailable for a few weeks.

It is a similar situation to that faced by Aiden Tolman recently after a positive test at his own child's school, placing the Bulldogs prop under quarantine until he was able to be named for Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers.