Under level four protocols, aimed to ensure public safety and the continuity of the competition, players must remain at home unless training, playing or completing an essential household task - with visitors are not permitted into the homes of players or officials.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the additional measures, which are identical restrictions as the competition enforced when the NRL resumed from May 28 last year, had been implemented to ensure continuity of the competition and reduce risk to the community.

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"When the competition resumes on Thursday night, players and officials will be under the same protocols as they were when the competition successfully resumed on May 28 last year,'' he said.

"It's clear the virus is spreading quickly and these measures provide an additional safeguard to ensure the competition can continue.

"Our players, officials and clubs united last year to ensure no risk to the competition or the community and I have every confidence the same will apply as we work through the current challenges.

"I want to sincerely thank the players and clubs for the way in which they continually adapt to the changing COVID environment."

This is just the latest challenge all the NRL South Coast products must deal with ahead of the kick-off of round 16, which will pit the Roosters against the Storm, who recently signed Gerringong's Tyran Wishart, at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium - as the match was moved out of the Greater Sydney area due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Kiama's Josh Morris will start in the centres for the tri-colours while Bega's Dale Finucane is the Storm's lock.

Albion Park-Oak Flats' Drew Hutchison is the Roosters' 18th man, as he works his way back from fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

Following that on Friday will be the Warriors and Dragons fixture at the Central Coast Stadium.

The host's side features Milton-Ulladulla's Jack Murchie on an extended bench, with Shellharbour's Euan Aitken ruled out due to being forced into COVID-19 isolation.

On the other side of the ledger, the Red V will welcome back State of Origin enforcer Tariq Sims, from Gerringong, into their starting forward pack, with fellow Lions product Jackson Ford and Park's Adam Clune named among the club's reserves.

Later that night, the Panthers battle the Eels in a western Sydney blockbuster - with the visitor's side being coached by Batemans Bay's Brad Arthur.

Saturday's three-game slate will pit the Bulldogs, headlined by Tathra's Adam Elliott, will lock horns with the Sea Eagles, whose side features Gerringong's Reuben Garrick on the wing.

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Next up will be the GIO Stadium match between Canberra and Gold Coast, with the latter's side coached by Milton-Ulladulla's Justin Holbrook and featuring Kiama's Mitch Rein among the reserves.

Finally that night, Newcastle, coached by Batemans Bay's Adam O'Brien, will entertain the Cowboys at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Moving on to Sunday and the Broncos, containing Moruya's Rhys Kennedy on the bench, will go toe-to-toe with the Sharks, where Narooma's Teig Wilton and Pambula-born Jack Williams were named among the interchange.

The final game of the round will see Nowra-born Cody Walker and his Rabbitohs travel to Leichhardt Oval to face the Tigers.