Gold Coast captain Ryan James says it will be unfair if Queensland teams can’t host NRL games this year due to the state’s flu vaccination stance.

The NRL is still trying to work out a revised draw for 2020, with the objection of around 10 players to the flu jab now acting as a major hurdle.

The Queensland government has confirmed it won’t allow players who have not been immunised to train and play in the state.

That decision has already forced Titans players Bryce Cartwright and Brian Kelly to stand down, with the pair required to tell the club by Thursday if they will adhere to a formal request to have the needle.

But it also means up to four interstate clubs could be affected when their team travels to Queensland.

Manly’s Dylan Walker and Canterbury’s Sione Katoa have already made their views public on refusing the inoculation, while Canberra have three players – including Josh Papalii – refusing the jab.

It has prompted the NRL to consider having all games played in NSW pending any easing of the government stance to avoid teams losing some players for matches played in Queensland.

That however would not save Cartwright or Kelly’s season, given they will be unable to train with the club and therefore not play until they receive the flu immunisation

And James – who will miss the entire season through a knee injury – said that would be simply unfair for his team.

“It probably would be (unfair),” he said.

“To have those players stood down and not have any games here would be taking it to another level.

“I’d assume those (interstate) players just wouldn’t be able to play in Queensland, I don’t know how it would work.

“I don’t think you would be able to take those games away from Queensland because you wouldn’t get any home games and would have to travel.”

James said that while there would be no fans in stadiums, there was a distinct advantage in playing at home given the travel required to fly to and from Sydney.

The Titans captain said he would not try to influence Cartwright and Kelly ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

James has reached out to the pair to check on their mental wellbeing, and said he was unsure if the possible threat of lost income would sway their decision.

“It would be brave of them (to stick to their position),” James said.

“Not too many people are willing to fight for what they believe in.

“You can’t dis anyone for fighting for what they believe in. If that’s what they truly believe then all power to them.

“There’s not too many people in history willing to fight such a big battle.

“And make no mistake, it’s probably one of the biggest battles being fought in this country at the moment. If it gets to that point then it’s up to those two.”

It comes after Melbourne and Queensland forward Christian Welch claimed non-vaxxers were a risk to their teammates, with all Storm squad members vaccinated.

“My thinking on that is, if we have a member in our squad who’s more susceptible to be sick and potentially come in,” Welch said.

“Especially this year with how strict everything is, I think it’s a bit of a risk for the squad.”