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Knights' Best out of NRL for parent visit

3 minute read

Newcastle's teenage sensation Bradman Best will miss the club's game against North Queensland after visiting his parents without approval from the NRL.

Newcastle's teenage sensation Bradman Best will miss Saturday's NRL clash with North Queensland for a biosecurity breach after visiting his parents.

The 18-year-old visited his family on Sunday morning, just hours after the league had relaxed its biosecurity bubble and let players out of the house.

Under the NRL's rules, players must have clearance to visit other households or meet with anyone from outside their own house or the club's bubble.

Best had failed to seek approval to visit another home, after NRL clubs were handed a relaxed set of biosecurity laws on Saturday night.

"You can now seek approval from NRL Apollo through your club to see family members who do not live in your household at their residence," the email to clubs read.

"You will need to contact your club for pre-approval."

Newcastle claimed there had been "some confusion" over the change to the protocols, with Best not realising he had to gain approval.

"To his credit, Best reported his mistake to the club's COVID coordinator who shared the information with the NRL," the Knights said.

Under the rules, Best would have been allowed to have his parents visit his house, provided they are not considered vulnerable or high-risk.

Players are allowed up to five visitors at one time and no more than 10 in a day, with a report submitted to the league each day on who they have had over.

No visitors can be from another club's bubble.

Other technicalities of the rules allow players to visit cafes with members of their household, players in their club's bubble and the people who live with them.

This is limited in groups of up to 10, and cannot include members of another club's bubble.

Again though, Best would have had to apply for an exemption to meet with his parents in a cafe or restaurant given he does not live with them.

Best has now been forced to stay away from the team's bubble for seven days, and will therefore miss the Townsville trip.

It means he won't return to team training until next week, with Enari Tuala to take his spot at centre.

The news comes as a blow to the Knights, given Best had scored five tries in four games this year and set up a lethal combination with Kalyn Ponga on the left edge.

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