Fridays are usually a much calmer day on the rugby league news calendar, and it definitely will be after Thursday's chaos.
Wayne Bennett and Paul Vaughan are both currently in 14-day isolation after breaching the NRL's strict biosecurity measures for a quick feed.
While last night's Dragons vs Roosters match was an attacking affair with a number of judiciary charges to come out of it .
Two big matches tonight, including the Rabbitohs taking on the Broncos and the Sea Eagles hosting the Warriors.
MORE: The untold stories from Thursday's press conferences
Here's the best of the rest from today's NRL press conferences!
RICKY STUART SLAMS COVID PAIR AFTER BUBBLE BREACH
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has blasted Dragons prop Paul Vaughan and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett after they were caught breaching COVID restrictions.
Whilst Bennett blamed the incident on the changing nature of what is deemed to be acceptable behaviour, Stuart wasn't buying the excuse due to the constant reminders that players and coaches receive on the protocols.
"They (the NRL) have had to jump onto it very quickly and they've got to make an example of it because everybody understands the rules and everybody is consistently made aware of it," Stuart told media on Friday.
"I know our people here feel like they're a nuisance because they're continually telling the boys,
"I gave the guys another quick chat today because I know Matty our footy manager and Wendy who looks after a lot of protocols, they get a little bit concerned that the boys are getting bored with it but you can't get bored with it.
"We are all being told what the protocols are and we're all made very much aware of it," Stuart said.
"I'd love to go to the pub and have a beer with my mates, I'd love to go out for lunch or go out for dinner with the family but you can't. They're just tough times at the moment but under tough times you find out the true character of people."
Stuart believes that his players are well aware of the rules, however, admitted that he was concerned that players may accidentally breach guidelines as they interact with fans.
"I just hope we don't get caught out through a mistake or whatnot," he said.
"It's just a common occurrence every day for the boys to go and get a selfie, a fan comes up and wants to get a photo or a signature, it's very much a reaction, it's a habit. Those things are a little bit different to going to a restaurant.
"It's a multi-million dollar business that's at stake here and we've just got to be very mindful of that."
- Nathan Williamson
MAGUIRE DEFENDS BENNETT AFTER 'MISTAKE'
Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has defended under-siege Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett after he broke biosecurity measures, suggesting that it was a simple mistake to make.
As Panthers coach Ivan Cleary looked to deflect any confusion surrounding the restrictions on players and coaches, Maguire believes that Bennett's repetition talks for itself and the breach serves as a wake-up call for the rest of the competition.
“Sometimes mistakes are made and we all know what we need to do,” he said when asked about Bennett.
“I don't want to touch on that.
“He’s achieved a lot in the game and every now and then a player, administrator or whoever within the game, sometimes you make a mistake,
“Everyone is aware of where we are at the moment,
“It’s a message to all of us around to be conscious of doing all the little things and it's a big commitment to just come to training and stay at home and do that over this period of time but if that’s what we have to do to get the world back on track, well that’s what we need to do.”
He praised the effort and commitment that everyone involved in the game had put in to ensure that the competition could continue, believing that they need to continue looking after each other.
“We’ve just got to keep reminding each other, it's life and where we are at the moment,” he said.
“The commitment across rugby league has been extraordinary, you see the way the game has got itself back playing in such a date and that’s the administration at the top, Peter and his team, and all the people there have done a great job,
“Even those two that had to go through what they went through yesterday no doubt have had a lot of commitment into trying to get the game where it is,
“We’ve just got to make sure that we look after each other and do the things that we’ve been doing.”
- Nathan Williamson
GEORGALLIS OPEN TO ANY NRL COACHING JOB HE CAN GET
In the three weeks Steve Georgallis has been in the hot seat at the Canterbury Bulldogs, he as certainly only enhanced his coaching credentials.
A last-minute loss to the Dragons, an unexpected win over the Knights and a close-fought defeat to the Eels have given Bulldogs fans a lot of hope.
However, even Georgallis doesn't know whether that will be enough to see him land a gig under Trent Barrett next year.
Or alternatively, as a head coach at another NRL club.
On Friday morning, Georgallis was asked about reports linking him to the vacant North Queensland Cowboys job.
Georgallis said he would refuse to rule any move out any club given he is off-contract at the end of the season.
"I'm interested in any sort of coaching job at the moment," Georgallis said.
"As you all know, we're all off-contract at the end of the year.
"Whether that be an assistant coach or a head coaching job, or I'd love to stay here as well.
"We haven't talked with the club yet, but any interest would be great.
"Obviously those sorts of head coaching jobs don't come up too often, but I haven't heard anything at the moment.
"I'm prepared to put my hat in the ring for any job."
- Lachlan McKirdy
CLEARY NOT AFRAID OF HIGH PRAISES LEADING NATHAN ASTRAY
Phil Gould this week declared Nathan Cleary will win "five or six" Dally M medals in his NRL career. You don't have to be a mathematician to work out that that would place him on the path to rugby league immortality.
It's a lot of attention for a kid some people may forget is still just 22 years of age. But father and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary isn't afraid of the hype getting to Nathan's head.
"He's on social media so I suppose there's not much you don't see," Cleary said when asked whether Nathan listened to the hype.
"I think he's pretty level headed and I know he learnt a lot last year with the amount of criticism he took.
"It's part and parcel of being in the spotlight and being the leader of the team. He's getting more used to that by the day.
"He's still a young man, he's got a lot to learn, he's still maturing but [it's] all part of the journey and he's playing well so he gets some raps.
"I think he pretty much understands criticism and sometimes pats on the back can sometimes lead you astray but I don't think that's going to happen."
- Ed Chisholm
