Twelve Origin players quarantined and Dragons-Titans clash is in doubt
By Steve Ricketts and Josh Massoud
June 08, 2009
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html



A total of 11 State of Origin players have been quarantined from their club teammates, plunging tonight's clash between St George Illawarra and Gold Coast Titans into doubt.

The Bulldogs, Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Titans have taken action to keep their players apart after Queensland forward Ben Hannant became the first player to contract the virus during last week's trip to Melbourne for Origin I.

Queensland players Darren Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Israel Folau ? Origin teammates of Hannant ? were separated from their fellow Broncos at training this morning, as was New South Wales halfback Peter Wallace.

Injured Origin centre Justin Hodges was also kept away from other players.

In Townsville, Johnathan Thurston (Qld) and Luke O'Donnell (NSW) have been quarantined, as have coach Neil Henry and trainer Billy Johnstone.

On the Gold Coast, Origin player Ashley Harrison (Qld) has been quarantined from the rest of the team although a team spokesman said he is not showing any symptoms of the flu.

The Titans' other Origin players Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi (NSW) remain with the team and have been selected to play tonight for the clash with St George Illawarra at the Gold Coast's Skilled Park.

But because the Dragons also have four Origin players - Darius Boyd (Qld), Justin Poore, Ben Creagh and Michael Weyman (NSW) - tonight's fixture is now in doubt.

The Broncos Origin stars appeared at the Red Hill training ground for a team photo but were then sent home.

They have been told they cannot train with teammates until Thursday, the last session of the week before the clash with Hannant's Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The rest of the side completed training.

Joel Clinton, who remains under suspension for breaching club rules, did not train today.

All Broncos players were given the Tamiflu, as were as assistant coach Allan Langer and trainer Tony Spencer, a club spokesman said.

It is a Queensland Heath directive that people who had been in proximity to swine flu victims be quarantined for 72 hours, he added.

"No one is feeling terribly bad. We are just hoping it's a common flu," Lockyer said.

"Fingers crossed the virus isn't here and it hasn't spread."

Asked if the measures were an overreaction, Lockyer said: "I don't know whether it?s over the top. I don?t know enough about it."

Maroons team doctor Roy Saunders notified the Broncos club doctor and ordered the players to be quarantined for 72 hours in accordance with Queensland Health regulations.