New Warriors coach sacrifices family Xmas
Incoming Warriors coach Nathan Brown has decided to sacrifice Christmas with his family by coming to New Zealand later this year.
After Sunday’s game against the Sea Eagles, Todd Payten will move on to work with the Cowboys and Brown then takes charge of the Warriors.
There is still plenty of uncertainty over where the Warriors will be based next year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but plans are being put in place by the club to have two preseason camps.
One will be in New Zealand for all the Kiwi players, while the second one will be on the other side of the Tasman for the Australian based players.
Brown could have chosen to work with the Australian players, but Warriors CEO Cameron George says he has decided to come to New Zealand instead.
Because of this, he’ll have to spend two weeks in isolation on arrival in New Zealand.
He’ll start working with the players in November and remain in the country over the summer, meaning he’ll miss out on spending Christmas with his family.
‘‘As he said to me the other day, he doesn’t expect the players to have to go through with it and him not to,’’ George told Stuff.
‘‘This stuff isn’t ideal for anyone, but he leads by example and he’s indicated already that he
just wants to get stuck into it, plan for next year and all sorts of things.’’
With the number of daily coronavirus cases reducing in New Zealand and Australia over the past week, hopes have been raised slightly of a trans-Tasman bubble going up.
But for now it’s prudent for George to plan for a number of scenarios.
‘‘The reality is that there are two options, being in New Zealand, which is our preferred option, but it’s not necessarily looking like that’s possible at this stage, or being in Australia.
‘‘So we’re planning a couple of scenarios and we’re working with the NRL on that.’’
The two separate preseason camps comes with numerous logistical issues and doesn’t help with team bonding
However, the only viable option on the table could be for half the team to train in Australia, the other half in New Zealand, then they all get together before the start of the 2021 season.
‘‘We’re still looking at those alternative options and haven’t firmed up on what exactly that will look like,’’ George said.
‘‘Irrespective, Nathan Brown will be coming here and playing his role as head coach from here, regardless of whether there is an Australian based group and a group over here.
‘‘He will be sacrificing Christmas with his family to be here, so it will be really good to have him here and work with us during that period from November onwards.’’
‘‘As he said to me the other day, he doesn’t expect the players to have to go through with it and him not to.’’
Cameron George
Warriors CEO