Once were Tamworthians … rural mayor’s pie in the sky just landed
The New Zealand Warriors — straight outta Tamworth? Mayor Col Murray thought it was pie in the sky.
The New Zealand Warriors — straight outta Tamworth? Mayor Col Murray thought it was pie in the sky.
But on Sunday, there it was, a plane in the sky, a charter flight full of the Warriors players, officials and support staff who would be calling his city home for the next fortnight.
Australian Border Force officials on Saturday granted 36 players and staff a rare exemption from the country’s ban on international arrivals, amid a slowdown in new coronavirus cases in Australia and New Zealand.
It was the first flight of non-Australians allowed to land on our shores since the borders were closed at the end of March — and evidence that the NRL’s improbable push to play in May might actually happen.
The Tamworth mayor’s message to the Auckland-based footballers? Welcome. But you owe us one. No freebies around here.
“Based on the long history of co-operation between Australia and New Zealand, particularly in times of adversity, and because of the friendly and welcoming nature of Tamworth, I would encourage the Warriors to come and enjoy themselves,” Murray told The Australian. “But remember, we’re helping you out now, and that means you really do owe us one. We’re hoping to see you back here again — on the footy field. No such thing as a free ride.”
The most powerful image of this strange arrangement came before the charter flight landed in Tamworth: Warrior Adam Blair being hugged by his wild-haired, pouting young son, Taika, back at Auckland airport. They might not see each other again until October. It said everything about the sacrifice of the Warriors players in agreeing to be in Australia for the season.
Blair and his teammates had a “wellbeing officer” to cope with the stress of the separation from family. No such luck for Taika. One of his wellbeing officers, his Dad, had gone across the ditch.
The flight was delayed by nearly two hours. Not all the Warriors players were on it. Nathaniel Roche revealed cold-like symptoms, and was told to stay in New Zealand. David Fusitu’a remained in Auckland, where his partner is expecting their first child.
It is unclear how or when Roache and Fusitu’a will cross the Tasman, with Sunday’s flight having been organised by the club in expectation of the Border Force travel exemption.
The airport terminal was closed to the public. A makeshift Customs processing area was set up. Australian Border Force officials were present. And police.
Cleared by immigration, the Warriors were taken to Tamworth’s Mercure hotel, where the gym was being upgraded for their arrival. Two truckloads of weights, barbells and various other lifting equipment arrived from the NSW central coast.
This is their home for the next fortnight. From there, it’s an 80m walk to Scully Park, their new training centre. They’re in quarantine in Tamworth before moving to the central coast for two weeks, ahead of the mooted May 28 resumption of the NRL season.
They cannot go anywhere other than their hotel and training ground. So, if you see any of them at The Albert pub on Peel Street, call the cops.
“It’s been a pretty dull old time over the past couple of months,” Murray said. “There hasn’t been a lot of news. Not much to get excited about. To have the Warriors coming here for a couple of weeks of quarantine is pretty special. We first talked about it a couple of weeks ago and it seemed like pie in the sky. Here we are. Here they are. Touchdown. It’s been a pretty big deal to pull all this together.”
Warriors chief executive Cameron George told ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys that it would be the greatest story in sport when the newly nomadic Warriors win the competition.
Murray has received mostly positive feedback from Tamworth residents about their city being used as an NRL quarantine centre … with a couple of exceptions.
“Not exclusively positive feedback, but overwhelmingly so,” he said.
More Coverage
Home buyers ready for interest rate cuts
After several months of modest price falls, property experts are not expecting a housing market resurgence off the back of an interest rate cut.
Rise of local terror demands better from our leaders
The scourge of anti-Semitism in Australia has become a runaway train that now demands a radically escalated counter-terror mindset from federal and state governments, police and spy agencies.