North Queensland Cowboys and Mate Ma'a Tonga superstar Jason Taumalolo has reportedly been issued a warning by his NRL club, over his hesitancy to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to Australia's Courier Mail, 28-year-old Taumalolo has been told his contract - worth over $10 million - could be in jeopardy, despite the NRL refusing to mandate vaccinations for its players.
As one of the biggest names in the NRL, Taumalolo signed his huge ten-year contract in 2017, with six years still remaining on his deal, and is the captain of the Cowboys.
But Taumalolo has been an absentee from the Cowboys' pre-season training in 2022, with the club having had more than 10 players test positive for COVID-19.
The North Queensland side have not confirmed whether or not Taumalolo has tested positive.
Taumalolo is understood to be the only Cowboys player that did not get vaccinated before beginning their pre-season in November, and his stance has seen him issued a written warning by the club.
Despite the NRL's refusal to mandate vaccination for players, unvaccinated fans will not be allowed to enter stadiums across Australia for the coming season.
Taumalolo wouldn't be alone as an NRL star to refuse to be vaccinated, with New Zealand international and Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona's future also in jeopardy.
