NRL 2021: New Zealand Warriors set for another season based in Australia due to COVID

Some have kids who’ve moved between five schools in 19 months, others barely seen their extended families in that time. But worse is to come for the team that has sacrificed the most to keep the NRL afloat.

The nomadic Warriors are resigned to spending a third straight NRL season based in Australia – a personal toll that includes the children of players moving between five different primary schools over the past 19 months.

An ARL Commission meeting on Tuesday will discuss the difficult, but inevitable decision of keeping the Warriors players and families in Australia for the 2022 season.

The Warriors haven’t been back to New Zealand or played at their home ground of Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland since August, 2019.

With one round remaining in the regular season for the Warriors, club CEO Cameron George has provided the commission with an urgent proposal that includes the club setting-up a new ‘home’ base at Redcliffe in Brisbane.

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Warriors players take part in a training session at their new ‘home’ base in Redcliffe. Picture: NRL Photos

The Warriors need an answer from the NRL “on where they’re headed” in order to commence pre-season training on November 1.

George has also written a document that provides the NRL with the unlikely scenario of allowing the club to return to New Zealand.

But due to the uncertainty of New Zealand and Australia’s on-going border closures, George said the Warriors were resigned to mitigating “risk to the rest of the competition going ahead with all 16 teams’’ by staying in Australia.

“We’ve settled on the fact that we’ll continue to stay here on the Gold Coast because we absolutely have nowhere else to go,’’ George said.

“The important part for me was getting a roof over our club heading into the off season so no family, no individual is stressed or worried.

Warriors CEO Cameron George (L) and head coach Nathan Brown have had to hold the club together during a tough period.

“My whole focus has been to create stability for the next 12-months for our footy club and that is sitting with the NRL now.

“I’ve put proposals to them to create that stability and I’ve tried to de-risk the scenario as much as possible so it doesn’t create a great deal of risk to the competition and also to the opposing teams.

“And most importantly, it gives our families, who have had five different homes this year...some of the children have been to five different schools this year.

“And that’s unfair. No one signs up for that.’’

Warriors players have gotten used to living out of suitcases. Photo: Tim Pascoe

REDCLIFFE WARRIORS

The Warriors have been in Australia since January 3, 2020 when they first used Tamworth as their training base.

They have since set-up residence at Terrigal on the NSW central coast before moving again to their current base at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

The Redcliffe Dolphins joined the Warriors as their feeder-club last year and George believes that relationship best serves the club as a home for 2022.

“There’s only two options; be in New Zealand and live normally and travel to Australia 12 times a year. That is a dream for us. We would love nothing more than that,’’ George said.

“However, you can‘t be stupid and ignore the facts which is, we can’t even get home, so how are we even dreaming of playing in New Zealand.

“That’s clearly not an option and so then there’s the Australian-based option.

“If we‘re going to be based in Australia we’ve got to be set-up and ready to go by 1 November.

“We’ve got a relationship with Redcliffe. It provides us with a facility and with many different facets of high performance.

“Location-wise, QLD has been, as far as Covid-19 numbers go, the safest option

“So we believe with our relationship with Redcliff being our feeder-club, that would make a lot of sense.”

Reece Walsh has made an immediate impact in 2021, as a key part of the Warriors’ recruitment. Picture: Getty

PLAYER EXODUS AND RECRUITMENT

George praised the financial support of Warriors owner Mark Robinson, who has been unwavering despite the non-existent status of his club in New Zealand.

George added that Robinson‘s commitment provided him with confidence that a third consecutive season wouldn’t result in a mass of players wanting to quit and return home.

He also looked for positives in how the Warriors can recruit, but still develop youth players in New Zealand.

“The players know they’ve got an owner who has their best interest at heart - Mark has been incredible,’’ George said.

“It’s a good question (if players want to leave) but there’s no other option for them.

“They either play football in Australia - or they don‘t.

“We’re still investing heavily in our junior pathways at home.

“We have Stacey Jones and Tony Iro really focused on getting that right.

“So we’re not forgetting about that.

“Staying here, maybe it provides an opportunity to recruit someone who doesn’t want to live overseas, but sees us being based in Australia for a year as interesting.’’

Kodi Nikorima gives thanks to the crowd. Picture: Getty

PERSONAL TOLL

George meets with the players and families every week to update them of their at-times stressful status of uncertainty.

“The one thing we’re doing is not speculating,’’ George said.

“We’ve done that very well over the last two years and made our decision based on what’s in place now

“We’re coming towards the end of the season everyone’s stress levels have started to go through the roof.

“My job is to provide that comfort that we‘re looking after this.

“They’re very trustworthy of the open dialogue we’re having with the group.

“We’ve always fought for the best outcome for them. What I know, they know. That’s important to me.’’

IMPACT ON RL IN NEW ZEALAND

The impact on rugby league in New Zealand by the virtual disappearance of the Warriors can‘t be ignored.

George said it was imperative the club and local leagues fought to maintain their foot-hold within the country despite their physical presence.

“That’s where New Zealand rugby league and Auckland rugby league and all the different regions need to continue investing grassroots money,’’ George said.

“The pressures got to come on them. We’re the retail shop front for them.

“We inspire young kids and hopefully what we’re doing here is doing that.

“If we can then gradually start to take games back throughout next year we would love nothing more to do that.

“It’s not ideal, absolutely not - but there’s no other option.’’

Raiders redemption keeps finals dream alive

By Martin Gabor

Canberra’s top eight hopes are still alive after Jordan Rapana missed a penalty goal and then redeemed himself with a try at the death to seal a thrilling 28-16 comeback win over the Warriors.

Rapana was at the centre of one of the wildest finishes of the year when the sides met back in Round 3, denied by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with what would have been the match-winning try in the left corner of GIO Stadium.

But he had his revenge in Mackay, finishing off a brave shift to the left that broke a 16-all deadlock with two minutes remaining as the Raiders ditched their faders tag.

“He tells me every week what he can do, and he’s actually doing it so I can’t criticise him,” a relieved Ricky Stuart said.

The Raiders have kept their finals hopes alive with a win over the Warriors. Picture: Getty Images.

Hudson Young added another try as the full-time siren sounded as the Raiders put a controversial week behind them to move ahead of the Sharks into eighth spot.

“I’m feeling a lot better than what I was at half-time,” Stuart said.

The Green Machine had earlier conceded a try in the opening minute and then gave up two quick tries as the Warriors punished some poor kick defusals.

But the introduction of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad turned the game on its head. The fullback crossed just before half-time and then set up Seb Kris for the first of his two four-pointers right after the break.

The game looked to be headed for golden point when Rapana missed a penalty goal from 40 metres out, Corey Horsburgh produced two quick errors and then Reece Walsh missed a field goal in the final eight minutes.

But the Raiders chanced their arm late with a shift to the left, which Rapana finished off in style to cap an outstanding night that saw him finish with a game-high 225 metres.

They will qualify for the finals if they beat the Roosters next week and the Sharks fail to win their remaining matches.

Hudson Young scored in the dying seconds to but it all beyond doubt and add to their points differential. Picture: Getty Images.

SEASON OVER

Warriors fans were dusting off the calculators in the first half, trying to work out how their team could sneak into the top eight.

But even Einsteinian logic won’t get them into the finals after they blew another big lead to lose a match they really should have won.

The sliding doors moment came before half-time when Chad Townsend’s grubber cannoned into the upright and fell into the arms of Sean O’Sullivan who couldn’t control the ball as he went to the line.

The Warriors came close but their finals hopes are over now. Picture: Getty Images.

The Raiders scored moments later, and the Warriors never threatened again. It ends a frustrating year that has again been ruined by Covid and injuries, but they’ll be kicking themselves for their inability to close out tight games.

“It probably summed our season up,” a disappointed Nathan Brown said.

“The way we managed the second half was horrible.”

To make matters worse, Chad Townsend (AC joint) is done for the season, while Matt Lodge is facing another suspension after he was placed on report for a hip drop tackle on Joseph Tapine.

SHIFTING THE GOALPOSTS

It’s probably a good thing the Raiders piled on the points late, otherwise there would have been outrage across the ditch after the touch judges waved away a Reece Walsh conversion that looked to have snuck inside the posts.

The young fullback had a tough day at the office last week against Brisbane, but he looked a lot more confident on Friday with two goals from three attempts.

But it could have been a perfect night at the office after he looked to have curled one between the uprights as he tried to convert Rocco Berry’s first half try.

Instead, it was waved away, and the Warriors were denied what could have been a vital two points.

Originally published as NRL 2021: New Zealand Warriors set for another season based in Australia due to COVID