Warriors coach not looking for excuses
Stephen Kearney is trying to keep it business as usual for the Warriors as they go through the most extraordinary times in the club’s history.
After spending a week stranded in Australia due to the coronavirus outbreak and with no idea when they’ll be able to see their families again, the players and coaches have looked to focus on tomorrow’s NRL game against the Raiders on the Gold Coast.
Playing the Raiders would be tough enough, but to do it in these circumstances, which include the absence of Peta Hiku and Patrick Herbert, who’ve returned to New Zealand, makes it even tougher.
Yet, just like it was when the Warriors started the season with 12 players on the injured list, Kearney isn’t talking about any crisis or looking for excuses, but refers to it as a challenge and an opportunity.
‘‘This is a situation that we’ve been presented with and now it’s about how we navigate our way through it,’’ Kearney told Stuff from the team’s temporary base in Kingscliff, northern New South Wales.
‘‘We’ve just got to get on with it, that’s how we’re going about it.’’
When the decision was made for the team to stay in Australia and play the game against the Raiders, some of the players became emotional about not being able to return to their families. But as the days have gone by, the players have been able to start thinking about footy again.
‘‘There was an initial shock, but now we’ve settled down and know what the landscape looks like, for this week anyway, we’ve been able to get on with things,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘They seem in good spirits and everyone seems OK. Cameron [George, Warriors
CEO] and Dan [Floyd, football operations manager] are keeping us updated on what the process looks like moving forward.
‘‘But they’re in good spirits and we’re trying to get ready to play the Raiders on Saturday.’’
At the beginning of this week it seemed as if the Warriors were likely to see out the week, then either come home and quit this season’s NRL competition, or hope that the ARL Commission suspends the league.
But with Gerard Beale, Agnatius Paasi, Jazz Tevaga and Karl Lawton all sent over on Wednesday to begin a 14-day isolation process so they can play in round four, it seems the team is in Australia for the long haul.
The TAB has the Warriors as $4.05 outsiders for tomorrow’s game, which is understandable. But the Warriors do have a history of playing well when their backs are to the wall and it’s possible that this adversity will help galvanise the team.
‘‘It certainly has the opportunity to do that,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘But that’s got to come from the way we look after each other over the next little period, the way we prepare and ultimately the way we play.
‘‘That’s where it shows its true colours, but this situation certainly has an opportunity to do that.’’