New Zealand Warriors player Adam Blair says goodbye in heartbreaking image

NRL fans are waiting for the game to get back underway, but the cost for one team’s return is far greater than the rest.

Adam Blair says goodbye to his son

The New Zealand Warriors are on their way to Australia after being granted permission to set up camp in Tamworth ahead of the 2020 season potentially getting underway on May 28.

Sports fans across the country have been praying for live action to return to their screens and the NRL has become the frontrunner with the league adamant the game will be safer for the players with the restrictions they’re putting in place.

But for the Warriors the pain of the season returning comes at a hefty cost and one image on social media showed just how tough it will be, despite the joy it will bring so many.

As the players packed their backs and waited to board the planes, Adam Blair’s partner Jess snapped an image of Adam hugging and saying goodbye to his son Taika at the airport.

Adam Blair and the Warriors are heading back to Australia.

The returning NRL season is set to run until around October, meaning the Warriors players could be looking at as long as five months away from their loved ones.

NZ Warriors player Adam Blair says goodbye to his family

Unfortunately not all players from the Warriors squad were on board the planes with hooker Nathaniel Roache refused permission after failing a screening test, due to a reported cold.

Nathaniel Roache has become first player to fall foul of new protocols. Understand he has a sore throat so has not made trip to Australia with Warriors

— Brent Read (@brentread_7) May 3, 2020

The Warriors are set to be based in Tamworth as they undergo 14 days of isolation after landing back in Australia and club Chief Executive Cameron George is ensuring his players and their families back in New Zealand are mentally equipped to deal with their next test.

Australian Border Force clearance finally arrived on Saturday morning for the squad, who are due to arrive in the NSW country town barely 24 hours later and not likely to return until the season is complete in October.

George hopes families can follow in coming months and that they can shift from Tamworth, after two weeks of training in strict isolation, to the Central Coast and ideally play “home games” in Gosford. An in-house wellbeing officer will remain with the team during the season, while the club will ensure their families have support around the clock. The club also has the option to apply for a replacement if any player needs to return home prematurely.

“The squad we’re taking across is the intended squad that we play with for the duration of the season,” George said.

“But if things change for personal reasons for individuals, on a case-by-case basis we can make application to the NRL, particularly on compassionate grounds. “The NRL have been really good in that regard and … they’re prepared to at least look at an application from our club, which is a good assurance for us.” While Australian NRL players have at least been able to train in groups of two, the Warriors have endured a complete lockdown.

“When they get into camp next week they can physically see them and look at them, see how they’re running,” George said.

“But everything’s been pretty good so far.

“It’s been a really challenging few weeks so to get that notification only 24 hours before we were due to depart was a big relief for our club and players. “They’re very excited about what lies ahead.”

– with wires