The NRL is reportedly considering drastic measures amid the growing COVID-19 Omicron outbreak across the country to ensure clubs can field squads each week.

With just two months away from the start of the NRL season proper, Brisbane Broncos assistant coach John Cartwright says clubs are going to have to have access to more players.

He agreed clubs need to be able to draw from players on development contracts.

“I think it’s a must mate,” he told Peter Psaltis on Wide World of Sports.

“What’s happening now to every club in the NRL could happen at any stage.

“I think squads are going to have access to players or we are going to have to start cancelling games and no one wants to see that.”

Psalty said squad sizes would be a real talking point for the 2022 season.

“Expect an announcement soon from the NRL to make it official that every club going into this season will have a 38-man squad.”

He said it could save the game this season.

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