Warriors aiming to be training in Australia on May 4
SYDNEY: Warriors boss Cameron George is hoping the NRL team can arrive in Australia in time to resume training with rival clubs on May 4.
The league is forging ahead with plans to relaunch its season in late May following highpowered meetings with broadcasters on Friday.
It remains unclear how many games will be played and how much the networks will be willing to pay for a restructured competition.
However, all parties agreed on aiming for a return to action on May 28, with teams pencilled in to recommence squad runs in just two weeks.
The inclusion of the Warriors remains a significant hurdle due to international travel restrictions on both sides of the Tasman.
The club is also demanding answers on several key issues before deciding whether to stay in Australia for up to seven months.
These include player remuneration, competition structure, and whether families will also be able to be housed with the team.
‘‘Once that comes to light, we’ll be better equipped to make the right decision,’’ George told Fox
Sports News.
‘‘And then we get to Australia, we can train with every other club from the 4th of May on. That’s our goal, notwithstanding a lot of water to go under the bridge.’’
Should the Warriors be granted an exemption to fly into Australia, they are likely to be forced into a twoweek isolation period upon arrival.
Understanding the restrictions during isolation is the key.
‘‘When we do that, we’ll certainly be in a position to understand where we should be located, and for how long,’’ George said.
‘‘It also depends on whether the interstate borders remain shut. There’s no use being too far away from Sydney if we can’t play in Queensland.’’
The NRL will be looking to finalise discussions with the broadcasters this week before its innovations committee sits down on Wednesday.
‘‘Myself and 15 other CEOs of the clubs are looking to get that information, drop it into our business models, and pan out what our future looks like in the next six months,’’ George said. — AAP