Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake is set to miss a third straight match on top of his two-game suspension due to his refusal to have a flu vaccination.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler confirmed on Friday that the Tongan international was still yet to have the vaccination, which is part of the NRL's biosecurity measures brought in when the ARL Commission restarted the Telstra Premiership in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manly are due to travel to Townsville next Friday to play the Cowboys and the Queensland Government will not allow any player or staff member into the state without having the flu vaccination.
Fonua-Blake has been sidelined last week and this week after receiving a two-game ban for his foul-mouthed tirade against referee Grant Atkins in the recent loss to Newcastle in which he used a derogatory term about the disabled community.
As part of the NRL's agreement with the Queensland government, players and staff members who live in hotspot suburbs now need to have COVID-19 tests before they are allowed to enter the state.
When asked on Friday if Fonua-Blake was expected to miss the match against North Queensland unless the rules change, Hasler replied: "That’s correct.
"At the moment the flu vaccination is compulsory."
Hasler said Manly had players in their squad who lived near the nominated suburbs in Western Sydney but not in the hotspot postcodes.
The Panthers also play in Queensland next week against Gold Coast, while the Broncos host the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma and prop Josh Aloiai have been cleared to take on Brisbane on Friday night after testing negative for COVID-19.
Five members of the Tigers bubble, also including coaching staff Brett Hodgson and Simon Dwyer and development player Zac Cini, were sent for precautionary tests as they live in Western Sydney hotspots for the virus.
All five have been cleared of any concerns, with Nofoaluma and Aloiai to start against the Broncos at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers were notified on Thursday that players and staff from teams playing against Queensland-based clubs, including the Melbourne Storm who have relocated temporarily to the Sunshine Coast, are required to be tested for COVID-19 before the match if they live in the Liverpool or Campbelltown areas.
