Broncos call off training in flu scare
The Brisbane Broncos postponed training on Wednesday morning as they awaited results of swine flu tests which could see Friday's big clash with the Bulldogs called off.
Test results for the six Brisbane players who took part in the State of Origin series opener in Melbourne with the NRL's only confirmed swine flu case Ben Hannant are expected to be known by Wednesday afternoon.
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said he couldn't see Friday's match against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium going ahead if any of his quarantined players returned a positive test.
Hannant's Queensland team-mates Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Sam Thaiday and Karmichael Hunt were all quarantined on Monday along with NSW halfback Peter Wallace.
Most of Queensland's Origin players were quarantined for 72 hours with concerns this weekend's round of NRL matches could be affected if any of those players tested positive for the virus.
Media reports on Wednesday morning were saying Hunt had been suffering from flu-like symptoms, heightening speculation he would return a positive test for the H1N1 virus (swine flu).
"We don't want to panic processes in motion, but we're a bit concerned at the moment about the game on Friday night," Cullen told Sydney radio station 2KY on Wednesday.
"We're waiting on a further test from Karmichael to confirm or otherwise if he's got swine flu or not.
"If he has, our entire squad, that's the first-grade and under-20 squads, will be put into 72-hour isolation and commence treatment with Tamiflu.
"We've got the boys at home now, we're not training this morning, we've got them on Tamiflu.
"If Karmichael doesn't come through with it then we can get back to normal but if he does that means the boys are out of action for three days from today."
North Queensland are also awaiting test results expected on Wednesday with their coach Neil Henry and fitness trainer Billy Johnstone quarantined after their roles with the Queensland Origin squad.
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.