Unmasked: How

The Warriors players were duped by the NRL into thinking there would be no issues in getting their families to join them in Australia.

David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and Leivaha Pulu all want to return to New Zealand to reunite with their families, with the players agreeing to a July 19 deadline on whether there will be confirmation that their families can go to Australia.

They have been criticised by some for looking to walk away from the rest of the season, leaving the rest of the team in the lurch.

However, Stuff can reveal false promises were made to Warriors players in May when discussions took place about the team relocating to Australia. The players were told then there wouldn’t be an issue getting their families to the other side of the Tasman.

When the NRL launched its Project Apollo to restart the season, it desperately needed to keep the Warriors involved, so there remained eight games each round and broadcasting commitments to Nine Entertainment and Fox could be fulfilled.

When discussions between Warriors players and the NRL took place, the players were told there wouldn’t be any problem getting exemptions for players and their families into Australia.

However, the NRL, during the time when Todd Greenberg was CEO, told the club that players and families shouldn’t be part of the same exemption application to get into Australia, as this would make it harder to get approval.

The advice was given that players should go first and families follow, but it was always a condition for the players that their families would be able to join them soon after. If there was any risk that families wouldn’t

‘‘It was always a condition for the players that their families would be able to join them.’’