Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes tested positive for COVID-19 two days after training with the blue team.
Hynes was named to Brad Fittler’s New South Wales team for the third game, but was released so he could train and play with the Sharks in the NRL this week.
On Monday he tested negative before training with the Blues, but on Wednesday he tested positive for the fast antigen test and was sent home by the Sharks.
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As a result, North Queensland midfielder Cha Townsend will enter the NSW camp on Thursday, where he will remain if Hynes is unable to return.
As Danny Weidler reported from Nine, Hynes will now do a PCR test.
If this is positive, he will have to isolate himself and miss the clash of the 17th round on Thursday with his former club, Melbourne.
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Nicho Hynes arrives to train during a New South Wales Blues session. (Getty)
The rest of his Sharks teammates will also have to give negative before going out on the field Thursday night.
The rest of the blue squad returned negative on Wednesday.
The third and decisive home game will be played in Brisbane next Wednesday. Hynes is not in the top 18 of the squad, so he is not required to travel with the Blues.
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