The South Sydney Rabbitohs may be privy to some changing Covid-19 national protocols with the team set to name Damien Cook in the squad despite him testing positive on the weekend.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is an avid Souths supporter, may have leaked some insider information to his beloved club that would most certainly benefit the team.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that star player Damien Cook may be eligible for selection this Friday against the Sydney Roosters despite the game falling within the seven-day Covid-19 quarantine period.
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Cook tested positive on Saturday morning, however, the club may have been given the heads up that Mr Albanese plans to announce a change to a five-day isolation period.
A change has long been called for by the likes of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet with the topic up for discussion at this Wednesday's national cabinet meeting.
It would signal a huge boost for the Rabbitohs in a heated clash with the Roosters to christen the re-opening of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
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Both teams sit just inside the top eight, and while both should be safe in their path to finals footy they will be wanting a momentum boost heading into the blockbuster series.
Damien Cook, a certified Souths legend will be out of quarantine on Thursday morning should the rules be relaxed, meaning he has 36 hours to prepare for the clash.
Cook is reportedly only suffering from a sore throat so should be in good condition for the matchup.
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Certainly paying off for the Souths to have fans in high places.
Prime Minster Anthony Albanese is a huge Rabbitohs fan and was in attendance at the Cowboys game over the weekend.
Albanese has been on the South Sydney board since 1999, when the team was dropped from the NRL.
He was part of the board that convinced the league to reinstate the Rabbitohs into the competition in 2002 - helping organise rallies and tabling motions in parliament.
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Albanese left the board after they returned to the NRL but was a strong supporter in selling the club to Russel Crowe and Peter Holmes during a meeting of more than 3000 Rabbitohs members in 2006.
A capacity 42,500 people are expected to be at the Sydney clash, the stadium’s first event in three years.
Topics: Rugby League, NRL, Australia
Jayden Collins