Denver dilemma: Kiwis test could cost Warriors
The cost of the Kiwis’ American sojourn is set to climb for the Warriors, who may lose their star players for not one, but two NRL matches, due to player welfare concerns.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has already ruled out picking any players that feature in the controversial test against England in Denver on June 24 for the following week's NRL game against Cronulla — but that policy could now be extended to prevent them from making the long trip to play the Cowboys in Townsville on June 15.
The Warriors are already unhappy their marquee players will embark on a 40-hour round trip across three time zones to the United States to play a test at high altitude and have previously stated they will only release players that are 100 per cent fit.
Warriors CEO Cameron George said the club is now weighing up whether players' long-term health will be better served by skipping the additional 15-hour return flight to North Queensland, that would see them return to Auckland a day before the Kiwis fly out.
New Kiwis coach Michael Maguire is expected to announce his initial wider squad for the one-off test in Denver by the end of next week, prior to the Warriors’ round 14 match against Manly in Christchurch.
“That's something I'm going to talk to Stephen about this week,” said George.
“They've got to be 100 per cent right to be available and there's a question mark about do we even send these players to the Cowboys game.
“We'll see who gets selected and then we'll talk to our group and make sure that we put mechanisms in place to ensure their welfare is looked after.
“And it may well be that it's that costly for the club that they miss two games instead of one because of this test match.”
That call could see the Warriors without several of their best players — including captain Roger Tuivasa- Sheck, Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering and Adam Blair — for two games crucial to their finals hopes.
The Warriors have a bye this weekend but it remains unclear which players will be declared fit to make the US trip.
Tuivasa-Sheck limped out of last week's loss to Souths with an ankle injury, Johnson is due back for next week's clash against the Sea Eagles after missing the last three games with a similar problem, and Luke is struggling with a shoulder injury.
“There's different players that have got niggling injuries, they're looking for a bit of a break but they're having a break this weekend so they might come back recharged and ready to go,” said George.
He added it would be up to the players to decide whether to put club before country and make themselves unavailable for the Denver test.
“That will be up to the individuals. It could well be [the case].
“They know that because of the travel we and they have to ensure that they're fit enough to endure that trip to play for the Kiwis and then also come back and play for us, not against the Sharks, but certainly the following week.
“We've got to get our season on track.
“The bottom line is if they're not fit they won't be going.”
According to George, growing the game abroad shouldn’t take priority over arranging a Kiwis test against Tonga.
“It just doesn't make sense that we're going up there [ the US] and everyone's talking about promoting the international game. Well, I've got a suggestion, how about we promote it in our back yard first?
“We've got the greatest opportunity here between New Zealand and Tonga,” George said.
“We talk about State of Origin, a test match between New Zealand and Tonga would blow out Origin.
“Let's exploit that opportunity and first and foremost let's not worry about the States, let's worry about getting our back yard right.”
That's something I'm going to talk to Stephen [Kearney] about. If they're not fit they won't be going.
Cameron George