The Melbourne Storm have been dealt a huge blow on the eve of its season-opener, with club captain Jesse Bromwich ruled out of the match due to COVID-19 protocols.
Bromwich has been deemed as a close contact after a family member tested positive to the virus and will be in isolation until next Wednesday.
The 32-year-old has been replaced in Craig Bellamy’s 24-man squad by Tepai Moeroa, who is in his second season with the club after 112 appearances for Parramatta.
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The Storm will be led by Bromwich’s co-captain Christian Welch in his absence.
Melbourne will open its season when it travels to CommBank Stadium to take on the Wests Tigers at 7:35 pm AEDT on Saturday.
The Storm are not the only team to be thrown a COVID-19 curveball ahead of Round 1, with Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon testing positive to the virus.
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Fitzgibbon described his health as “fine” and said his symptoms were “mild”, with assistants Steve Price, Josh Hannay and Daniel Holdsworth set to lead the side.
Cronulla’s season will get underway with a trip to GIO Stadium to take on the Canberra Raiders on Friday night.
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