Warriors set to stay
Warriors owner Mark Robinson says the club will remain in Australia for as long as it takes to ensure it remains involved in this year’s NRL competition.
The Warriors are currently based in Kingscliff on the New South Wales north coast after their round-two clash with Canberra was relocated to Cbus Super Stadium from Eden Park.
Until now, the club hasn’t made any commitment beyond the round-two fixture since New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that all travellers arriving in the country after Sunday night would be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
There has been speculation the team will return to New Zealand after the game, but in his first interview Robinson said the Warriors were committed to remaining part of this year’s competition, even if it meant an extended stay in Australia.
‘‘Of course, we’ve got to do everything we can to keep looking after our obligations,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘Going forward they are happy to play as long as the competition is running. The boys are pretty happy to stay. We will do everything we have to do to honour our agreement with the NRL.
‘‘I think we just do it. It’s like going on a six-week rugby league tour to England.
‘‘I was having a yarn with them last night, telling them it could be worse. You could be in Italy stuck in an apartment.
‘‘They are in a resort here, they’re to his players
training, they’re happy.
‘‘They had two go home, one just had a baby and one’s expecting one, but the rest of them are happy to stay. It’s good for their character.’’
Robinson is the sole owner of the Warriors after his firm, Autex Industries, struck a deal to buy Carlaw Heritage Trust’s 67 per cent stake in the club last year.
He said he was buoyed by the support the Warriors had been shown by the NRL and other clubs who were willing to loan players to help them field a team if required.
‘‘We kept about six or seven young NSW Cup boys here and [the NRL] said we can put them in our roster,’’ Robinson said.
Earlier yesterday, Warriors CEO Cameron George said the Warriors were looking at bringing in players on short-term loans from other NRL clubs to help them stay in the competition.
‘‘We’ve got a hit list. We have been talking to a couple of clubs about some players that might be available under the circumstances,’’ George said. MORE STORIES PAGES 30-31
‘‘I was having a yarn with them last night, telling them it could be worse. You could be in Italy stuck in an apartment.’’
Warriors owner Mark Robinson