Warriors to play out of Newcastle if granted clearance to travel to Australia
While their special exemption to travel is yet to be confirmed, the Warriors look likely to play their resumed NRL season 2020 out of Newcastle HQ come May 28.
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Initially, it was home to Slammin’ Sam Stewart.
Now Newcastle Stadium looks set to play host to an entire New Zealand club.
Despite still awaiting official clearance to arrive in Australia, the Warriors are already undergoing discussions to make a home ground of Knights HQ when the NRL competition resumes on May 28.
As revealed by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the Aucklanders are yet to receive final clearance from Australian Border Security to jet across the ditch as early as this Sunday.
However NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who has been a key player in negotiations, said he expected the Warriors to receive the green light to fly by close of business Thursday.
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Certainly preparations are already being made for the club’s arrival in Tamworth, where they will initially be based and allowed to train while in quarantine.
Barilaro said the NSW Government was satisfied that rugby league’s travelling franchise would be able to remain effectively quarantined while training in a “fortress” facility that includes the $2 million Scully Park complex.
From there, the New Zealanders will then shift to a new camp somewhere on the Central Coast, and only a short bus ride to the ground where Kiwi favourite Slammin’ Sam led the first Knights in 1988.
According to Fox Sports Statistics, the Warriors have more success at Newcastle Stadium than any other venue currently available in Australia other than Brookvale Oval.
When it comes to grounds where they have played more than five games, the Kiwis have the highest success rate at the currently demolished Sydney Football Stadium, then Cbus Stadium on the Gold Coast.
The Manly Sea Eagles’ suburban ground is third, then Newcastle Stadium.
However the club’s happiest hunting ground is Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, where they have won two of three games at the boutique venue.
Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the Warriors were yet to receive a special exemption to travel to Australia.
The announcement came roughly 24 hours after NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro revealed that, while nothing he been signed off, he expected a Warriors green light within days.
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Asked about the Warriors arrival in Australia, Morrison said: “That still hasn’t been determined.
“The Commonwealth has made no decision about the access by the Warriors into Australia, that hasn’t happened.
“It’s helpful for all of these issues that have to be resolved to hopefully achieve that timetable … but there’s still a bit of work to do.
“As I said at the outset, I like the aspiration (of the NRL), and it would be great to see it back on there.
“But it’s got to satisfy all the health requirements.
“There is the code that is being developed for elite sport, professional sport, community sport, as well as individual recreation, that’s been done by the medical expert panel now.”