Brown puts positive spin on Warriors’ split camps

SYDNEY: New Warriors coach Nathan Brown claims his NRL team’s preseason split could benefit it and he is confident it is better prepared for life away from home in 2021.

The Warriors’ squad has been reunited in Tamworth for the past fortnight, after border closures caused separate preChristmas camps on either side of the Tasman.

That resulted in around a dozen players — including most recruits — training under assistants Craig Hodges and Justin Morgan in Kiama, NSW, while Brown led the New Zealandbased players in Auckland.

Brown admitted the enforced situation created challenges, but believes the more tailored training for the smaller groups could help.

‘‘We decided to go down a path where we felt we could get an advantage out of the situation and make it a positive,’’ Brown said.

‘‘Sure the combinations might not be quite where they would be if we’d trained before Christmas.

‘‘But we got to put a lot of time into some other areas . . . We probably used a little bit more individual preparation.

‘‘One of the best things for all playing groups as individuals is getting their core skills right.’’

Working in the Warriors’ favour is that their spine is likely to be largely unchanged in 2021, with the majority of changes in the forward pack.

Addin FonuaBlake, Ben MurdochMasila and Kane Evans arrived to boost the pack, while Bunty Afoa and Leeson Ah Mau are fit again.

The Warriors have been in camp in Tamworth since January 3, before families fly over to join them on the Central Coast next month.

They will have Terrigal as their base for at least the first four rounds, hoping a possible travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is introduced at some point in the season.

There is also the chance they will have far more freedom in camp in 2021, with the NRL working to ensure club bubbles are not in place this season. — AAP