The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team have been instructed to remain in quarantine for a further seven days before boarding a flight to Brisbane.
PNG Hunters coach Matt Church briefs training squad. Photo: Facebook / SP PNG Hunters
34 players and management staff had been isolating together in a quarantine bubble in Port Moresby for the past nine days as they await approval to travel to Queensland to compete in the Super Cup.
The travelling party underwent a second round of Covid-19 testing on Thursday, with the full squad returning negative results yesterday.
But because one person tested positive during the first round of testing, the rest of the squad are regarded as close contacts and must quarantine for 14 days.
The PNG Hunters will be based in Queensland for the 2021 season. Photo: Facebook/PNG Hunters
PNG Rugby Football League Acting CEO Stanley Hondina said the positive case was identified on Friday February 5 and the individual was isolated immediately.
"Queensland Health Authorities advise that the players and coaching staff were together with the positive case and are regarded as close contacts and therefore, should not be travelling to Queensland until 14 days has passed since their date of exposure to the positive Covid 19 case."
"We must understand and respect their laws and policies and comply as 'guests' in their country."
Stanley Hondina. Photo: Screenshot
Hunters coach Matt Church said the health and safety of everyone in PNG and Queensland remains their priority.
"This is a requirement by health authorities and we have to comply," he said.
"These delays are unfortunate for our program but our focus remains only on what we can actually control."
The Hunters will undergo a third round of Covid-19 testing next week and, provided everyone returns a negative test, the squad will finally fly out on Sunday 21 February, less than four weeks before their season opener against Wynnum Manly.