NRL 2022: New Zealand Warriors’ homecoming put on hold again due to ‘government obstacles’

The Warriors haven’t played a home game in New Zealand since 2019, and their hopes of a homecoming match have been delayed again. Find out why.

The Warriors were hoping to play a game in New Zealand in June. Picture: NRL Photos

The Warriors have been forced to delay their eventual homecoming after cancelling a planned match on Kiwi shores in June because of “government obstacles”.

New Zealand have already indicated they will play out the season largely based at Redcliffe but had hoped to host a handful of games in Auckland for the first time since August 30, 2019.

They have already cancelled plans to play the Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium on June 18.

Watch The 2022 Harvey Norman All Stars Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now >

The Warriors were hoping to play a handful of games in Auckland this season. Picture: NRL Photos

“We remain desperate to bring the team home to play at Mt Smart but it’s impossible to do so in June with the obstacles (the New Zealand) government has put in place,” Warriors boss Cameron George said.

“All we can do is work with the facts and the fact is it’s impossible to expect NRL teams to isolate for seven days after arriving in New Zealand. Penrith, for example, plays the previous Sunday so it can’t even do the seven days before our game.”

They now hope their return to Auckland will be against Wests Tigers on July 3.

The Warriors are scheduled to play the Storm, Canterbury and the Titans at home this year.

They have been based in Australia the past two seasons, spending the most of their time playing at Gosford before moving to Queensland this year.

“What the government needs to address and get correct is create corridors for sport and businesses to come and go, in and out of New Zealand for the purpose of providing either an injection into the economy in a business sense, or providing content for the community to enjoy,” George said.

“There are so many ways they could achieve that, but by simply having a blanket approach for sporting teams or people who need to conduct business activities either side of the Tasman, it isn’t going to work under the current circumstances.”