Warriors' utility Jazz Tevaga is braced for the worst ahead of their trip to Christchurch to face Manly, admitting he has felt "pretty heartbroken" over the last two weeks.
While several of the team have friends and relatives in the Garden City, Tevaga, who plans to pay his respects at both Mosques in the city, has the most direct connection.
He was born there, and played his first junior footy for the Burnham Chevaliers, when his father was based at the military camp.
His mother and grandmother still live in Christchurch, as do plenty of cousins.
"It's very sombre down there," said Tevaga. "[It's a] good opportunity for us to go down there and put some smiles on people's faces. What they have been through over the last two weeks I can't imagine. It's pretty tough."
Tevaga has been in regular contact with friends and family over the last fortnight, but admits visiting the city for the first time since the horrific events of March 15 will add another perspective.
"It hasn't really hit me yet," said Tevaga. "It will probably hit me when we get down there and get amongst some of the people. Right now I am solely focused on getting the job done. [But] I'm preparing for the worst. I know some of us are going to go down to the mosque to pay our respects and it will be pretty emotional."
The 23-year-old vividly recalls hearing the horrific news on that fateful Friday afternoon, just before the Warriors assembled ahead of their round one clash with the Bulldogs at Mt Smart.
"I had this yuck feeling inside me and in my heart," said Tevaga, who will play his 38th NRL game on Saturday. "I was pretty heartbroken. That's why we brought the boys together to say a couple of prayers and paid our respects. That was the drive that we had for round one ... for the people that suffered the tragedy in Christchurch."
The Warriors players huddle together for a moments silence to support the victims of the Christchurch shootings before their game against the Bulldogs. Photo / Photosport
The Warriors' match with the Sea Eagles is first major sporting event staged in the city since the tragedy, but both Tevaga and coach Stephen Kearney say they have no welfare concerns.
"I think we are in good hands," said Tevaga. "I'm sure the club and the police will be working hard to make sure that we are safe, and we have full trust in them to make sure they will look after us."
"We have been assured of [being safe]," said Kearney. "We have got a commitment to the city of Christchurch and the community and we intend to uphold that. [I've] spoken to the lads if there are any concerns and they are all fine with it."
Perhaps the biggest challenge for the Warriors will be staying focused on their task at hand, ahead of an emotional few days, and channelling all of that energy into their performance.
"I've got no doubt it will be a pretty emotionally charged evening," said Kearney. "First and foremost our focus is making sure we prepare well, and I don't think you can go away from that.
"But all of us here have felt and heard and seen what followed the events of two weeks ago and we all feel it and we all know it. But our responsibility as a footy team is to get our jobs done on Saturday afternoon at 5pm. That's where our focus is."
