I can’t help thinking this all could have been avoided. If I remember correctly players had to apply for a medical exemption by December 10. Given Novax only (allegedly) contracted COVID on December 16 they could simply have said too late.
This has been stuffed up my many but imo it came down to a desire by ( not sure who, maybe TA) to get him here.
I think you are right that it was TA. As you said, he didn't qualify for their exemption (based on time period) so they bent over backwards to get him in on other grounds. As with everything, it seems its one set of rules for the main group and then a different set for the privileged and TA was at the heart of this. IMO Craig Tilley should be sacked over this whole episode.