Warriors could play in NZ
The Warriors could play NRL games at Mt Smart Stadium this year if a trans-Tasman bubble is set up.
While it’s not locked in that the Warriors will fly to Australia on Sunday to prepare for the resumption of the NRL season on May 28, both the club and the rest of the NRL hope that happens.
In Australia and New Zealand the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has remained low and the prime ministers of both countries have spoken about the possibility of forming a transTasman bubble.
That would have a massive impact on the Warriors as not only would the players and their families be able to travel between
Australia and New Zealand, but it could eventually lead to games being played in Auckland.
While it’s more likely that these will be played behind closed doors, there is already talk in Australia that there could be crowds towards the end of the season, including the grand final on October 25, then the subsequent State of Origin series.
Not surprisingly, Warriors chief executive Cameron George is paying close attention to the prospect of a trans-Tasman bubble and the implications it could have, including giving some relief for the club’s players who are expected to go to Australia for an indefinite period of time.
‘‘Families are a massive part of this for our whole club and the players, for the position we’re taking by being in this competition and the NRL have a very clear picture of that,’’ George told Stuff. ‘‘The trans-Tasman bubble talk has been very exciting for us, because it could mean a number of different things.
‘‘It could mean our families can come back and forth as they wish without going into isolation.
‘‘It could mean our playing group could come back and travel.
‘‘Until we understand the likely scenarios, I’m not reading into it too much, but it does give me confidence that the governments are discussing it.
‘‘All of that is potential,’’ he added of games in New Zealand.
‘‘The first thing we need to do is find out what the competition is, then understand how how long before we start.’’
It was announced on Tuesday that the NRL would be a 20-round competition this year and that the results from the first two rounds, before the competition was suspended, would count.
But there still isn’t a reworked draw or any announcement on where games will be played and there are still a number of other boxes that need to be ticked before the Warriors leave New Zealand.
‘‘I’m pushing daily and to his credit, Peter V’landys [ARL Commission chairman] has been tremendous,’’ George said.
‘‘But it’s just a lot of what we’re wanting to find out ASAP is clearly involved in discussions with third parties.’’
Meanwhile, once there is more certainty about what this year’s
NRL competition will look like George says he’ll get in touch with the club’s members and sponsors, who forked out for a season’s worth of home games at Mt Smart Stadium this year.
‘‘Members, corporate partners and sponsors have been unbelievable in their support and patience through this period,’’ George said.
‘‘We will make some announcements in mid May, but we’ve been waiting to find out what the competition looks like, what the values are within that for our sponsors and then we’ll make some announcements around mid May.
‘‘To date, we’ve had no information in order to make decisions, we’ve had nothing to go back to the members, corporate partners and sponsors on.
‘‘It has been frustrating, but patience has been required day in, day out.’’