SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 17: Apisai Koroisau of the Panthers reacts with team mates after a Rabbitohs error during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on October 17, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Panthers are concerned of the impacts Apisai Koroisau's absence could have on the club's critical away trips to Queensland and New Zealand next season, as he is yet to decide whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

With state restrictions in place for those that choose to go unvaccinated, Koroisau stands to miss at least four matches in 2022 and therefore leave a sizeable void in the Panthers' dummy-half depths.

The 29-year-old would miss trips to face the Titans (Round 8), Storm (Round 10), Warriors (Round 15) and Cowboys (Round 25) next year, with Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher expressing his concern surrounding the potential absence of Penrith's star hooker in their premiership defence.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 03: Apisai Koroisau passes during a New South Wales Blues State of Origin training session at NSWRL Centre of Excellence on June 03, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

“It’s OK to fine Api but we have to think about the rest of the team, playing four games a year without the club’s number one dummy half," Fletcher told The Daily Telegraph

The Panthers and Fletcher are understood to have held a meeting with Koroisau to explain the consequences of going unvaccinated into the new season, however News Corp's report suggests the club have not placed an ultimatum on the Fijian international.

Fletcher, accompanied by a club high-performance manager and a welfare and education co-ordinator, looked to explain the potential repercussions of Koroisau's stance, giving the Blues rake time to mull over his decision prior to returning to the club for training next month.

“We had a good conversation and explained our side, which we have to do,” Fletcher added. “Api understands all the implications of vaccination and non-vaccination.

“It will be his decision. It’s not our decision to tell him to get vaccinated but we just wanted him to understand all the consequences, which he has now taken away to comprehend. Api has had some medical history with it.

“He will get advice on that and get back to us within the month and we’ll go from there. We’ve done our part. It’s a process.”

Koroisau, who is currently one of 15 reported players yet to receive the jab, is set to link up with his teammates for training on December 15