Ken Maumalo reflects on the Warriors tough start in a defeat to the Parramatta Eels. Video / NZ Herald
Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck says the playing group would prefer to stay based in Australia for the rest of the NRL season, rather than take the risks involved with relocation.
As reported by the Herald last week, the club has shelved plans to transfer their base back to Auckland inlate June, after the round 15 match against the Knights.
That idea was predicated on free-flow transtasman travel being guaranteed, but the uncertainty around the ongoing Covid-19 situation has complicated the process.
The club can't take the chance of the team being stuck on either side of the Tasman and being forced into a similar predicament as in 2020, when players and staff were isolated from their families.
That makes remaining at their Central Coast base the most practical option, though there are still hopes of Mt Smart games in August.
As skipper, Tuivasa-Sheck has been heavily involved in the process and says the squad are united in their view.
"Overall we all made a smart decision that we probably think it is best for us to stay on here and then just finish off," said Tuivasa-Sheck. "Because you have got to consider the families, and boys having to find homes when they get back - to pay for bonds, to find leases - that's all the little things that we all had to think about."
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Photo / Photosport
There is a desire to return home, but the logistics are complicated.
"We're putting all that into consideration," said Tuivasa-Sheck. "It doesn't seem that easy just to pack up and go home because unfortunately some of the boys don't have homes, they don't have cars there, they don't know how to get around.
"It's a good set-up here, it's a good system here, so we may as well just finish up the year here, if it goes ahead, if we get the green tick for that and get ready for a life back in New Zealand in the new year.
"We'll just see what the best option that the NRL, the club, and us leaders come up with. We're just going to back it and that's going to be my role; to get the boys to buy in, knuckle down and keep working hard."
Coach Nathan Brown agreed that while there were obvious benefits to relocating, it probably isn't feasible.
"There's the obvious thing that happened a week or so ago [in NSW], with the virus coming in and the borders all get shut," said Brown. "So I would think that for stability, being here is probably the safest option, for all involved."
The Herald understands the club is eyeing the three scheduled home games in August (7th vs Sharks, 15th vs Bulldogs and 27th vs Raiders) as possibilities for 'fly in-fly out matches', with the first two the most likely.
But it will depend on the support of the NRL, and whether the opposition clubs will be prepared to make the trip, given the ramifications of a sudden border closure on either side of the Tasman.
"If we make the call that we're going to stay here in Australia I would still love to come back home and get a few games on," said Tuivasa-Sheck. "They will go off and it is only fair we can do something back home."
Meanwhile centre Adam Pompey confirmed on Wednesday he has agreed a new two-year deal. While his form has dipped in the last two games, Pompey has been one of the big improvers this season.
His renewal, along with Rocco Berry's emergence and the presence of Euan Aitken will raise questions about Peta Hiku's future, with the 11-test Kiwi off contract and out with injury for the rest of the season.
