Warriors in Australia ‘a blessing in disguise’
They may have had little choice but to relocate to Australia for at least the start of the season, but Warriors consultant Phil Gould says the club’s pre-season set-up would be the envy of all 15 rival NRL head coaches.
The Kiwi outfit gathered in Tamworth, New South Wales, thisweek for amonth-long training camp before returning to last year’s base in Terrigal on the Central Coast, where they will open their 2021 campaign.
While everyone at the Warriors hope the travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealandwill be lifted in time for the team to return home from
April, Gould believes the current situation could ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise as coachNathan Brown’s new-look squad tries to hit the ground running.
‘‘If I was a first grade coach and I could lock my team up for a couple of months in camp like this to get ready for the season, I think it’s the perfect preparation,’’ Gould told media in Tamworth.
‘‘Whilst forced on them because of Covid restrictions, I think it’s a great opportunity for them, particularly with so many new recruits and so many young players they’ve got in the system here now.
‘‘I think it’s the perfect opportunity for them all to get to know themselves and preparewell for the season.’’
Gould’s main brief is to improve the Warriors’ pathways programme to set the club up for long-term success.
Butwith travel restrictions preventing him from getting toNew Zealand, hewill be a regular in Tamworth over the next few weeks.
Atwo-time premiership-winning coach and one of the sharpestminds in the game,
Gouldwarned not to expect overnight success but believes there are promising signs for the Warriors as they look to become a top-eight side.
He was impressed by their recruitment, with the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Kane Evans adding some serious grunt up front, and says they have a coach in Brown who can get the best out of them.
‘‘I’ve known Nathan a long time, I’ve always rated his knowledge of the game,’’ Gould added.
‘‘He’s a very personable fellow, he gets very close to his players. He’s very, very good technically and I thinkwith the modern game that’s important and players need to feel as though they’re developing.
‘‘He’ll be a great asset to the Warriors.’’
As for his primary role with the club, Gould is itching to finally get his feet on the ground in New Zealand where he will alsowork with theNew Zealand Rugby League and Auckland Rugby League to develop the next generation of talent.
Asked specifically how the Warriors could compete with New Zealand’s dominant sport of rugby union, Gould says he’s never been one to get preoccupiedwith cross-code rivalries.
But he laid out the challenge facing the Warriors in order to attract the best young talent.
‘‘I think there’s room enough for everyone, particularlywith kids,’’ Gould said.
‘‘As long as they’re playing sport in some sort of competitive environment, I think it’s healthy. And then they choose the code that they love.
‘‘I don’t look at rivalry too much. Butwhat we have to be is an attractive option for them. Kids have got to aspire to play rugby league at the highest levelwith their local club and that’s what we need to be.’’