Coach Stephen Kearney keen to protect his young Warriors as club hunt loan players
The Warriors are now on the hunt for short-term reinforcements after the NRL granted the battling Kiwis permission to sign Australian-based players to enable Stephen Kearney’s side restart their 2020 campaign.
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The Warriors are now on the lookout for temporary reinforcements after the NRL paved the way for the embattled club to receive short-term loan players.
The NRL confirmed it had cleared the path for the Warriors to sign a middle forward for up to a month. The club were sorting through a shortlist of five or six players including the likes of Tigers’ Matt Eisenhuth and St George Illawarra’s Eddie Blacker to join the club immediately.
The NRL wrote to club bosses on Saturday to confirm the decision which needed approval from the commission.
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“The NRL has today given an exemption to the Warriors to seek a short-term loan agreement with other NRL clubs for a registered top 30 or development list player,” the email read. “This approval has been given due to the number of injuries the club has suffered to their middle forwards and the quarantine restrictions in place for any player that travels to Australia from New Zealand.
“The exemption is given by the NRL Salary Cap Auditor with the ARLC to consider the introduction of a loan system for the remainder of the 2020 season when they next meet.”
The loan in conditional.
The email read: “Club able to sign a middle forward for an initial period of four weeks. The loan agreement can be extended with agreement from the player and the players parent club.”
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney says it would be unsafe to throw his young chargers into a first-grade game and he has a duty of care to protect them. Kearney said he had 26 players at training on Friday but, among them, are players who he said he cannot select because of safety concerns, including fullback Rocco Berry.
“He is just 19 and has played two games of rugby league,” Kearney said. “Part of this year he would have been involved in NSW Cup competition as part of his development. It’s a big ask.
“If I had to put him in for half an hour of an NRL match, he may be able to cope with it. But (my) duty of care, I don’t want to put a player (on the field) like that. I wouldn’t be taking that risk.
“Within that 26, we have some development boys in there. At this stage, I don’t want to be putting those guys into an NRL contest. I don’t think it’s safe practice.”
The Warriors have also used recently retired Blake Ayshford, who is travelling with the side as part of a Kiwi media contingent, in opposed sessions.
The Warriors are desperate to add a forward to their mix after a spate of injuries to first-graders including Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa, Jackson Frei, Jazz Tevaga and Nathaniel Roache.
Half Adam Keighran is out for two months with a knee injury while Kearney said David Fusitu'a will miss at least two games after he joins the squad from quarantine next week.
“(Chief executive) Cameron (George) is working with the NRL for a loan process,” Kearney said. “The player we’re potentially talking about might not be in the top 20, we are in position to give him some NRL. It’s going to be of great assistance.”
They have been linked with Tigers forward Matt Eisenhuth.
The Warriors want a ruling from the NRL before they explore Eisenhuth’s cousin — Paul Gallen — and his offer to play while Kearney said Sam Thaiday was one of a number of ex-Broncos who indicated they would play.
The club had a loan request knocked back already but that was before Keighran’s injury.
The Warriors were given some respite when ex-Raider Jack Murchie joined them for the rest of the season this week. Murchie said the move happened quickly.
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“I want to be playing regular first grade,” Murchie said. “I can see a big opportunity for me to do that. Hopefully I’m lucky enough to pull on that jersey.”
A veteran of three games for the Raiders, the 22-year-old looks a strong chance to be in the Warriors 17 that faces St George Illawarra next week.
Formerly an edge back-rower, Murchie has transitioned to the middle in recent years.
With New Zealand suffering a spate of injuries to their props, Murchie may prove to be a sharp signing.
The former Raider was a member of the 2017 Under 20s team of the year but has struggled to get a run amid Canberra’s strong forward pack.
He played just one first grade game last year but was a consistent standout at NSW Cup level.
Originally published as Coach Stephen Kearney keen to protect his young Warriors as club hunt loan players