Kearney’s isolation lasts a little longer
He might have returned to New Zealand, but Warriors coach Stephen Kearney faces another two weeks away from his family due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Warriors squad rushed home on Tuesday after spending the past two weeks in Australia in a desperate bid to remain in the competition before its suspension.
However, Kearney will have to self-isolate for a fortnight before bring able to re-unite with his wife and children, who are based in Brisbane.
‘‘I come back with the group, with the team yesterday just to tidy up a few things back here,’’ Kearney told Fox League Mornings.
‘‘I’ll try to get back to Brisbane in the next week or so.’’
Since Kearney took on the Warriors job in 2017, his wife, Piri, and daughters Samantha and Isabella, opted to remain in the Queensland capital.
Piri famously overcame a battle with breast cancer later that same year.
‘‘There’s no doubt it’s been a challenge through this whole journey working over here with the Warriors,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘This [pandemic] has just added another level to it.
‘‘In times like these, as we would all know, you want to be closer to the ones that love you most and not to be able to do that, I’m here on my battling lone and not doing a great deal.’’
Warriors players will be doing likewise over the next month, with the country going into lockdown from midnight last night.
Their Mt Smart Stadium base shutdown at 5pm, local time, limiting players to training on their own to stay as they hope for a competition resumption.
Even going on public runs could be an issue.
‘‘We’ve told our playing group that obviously if they’re out and about, people knowing them, they’re right off the plane in the last couple of days, and there are shots taken of them, it’s not a good look for our footy club,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘And we want to make sure we’re abiding by the rules.’’
■ They may be the NRL’s richest club but Brisbane admit even they face a fight for survival due to the coronavirus shutdown.
The Broncos appeared set to survive the pandemic with almost $15 million in the bank and reportedly amassing revenue of almost $52 million last year.
However, Brisbane CEO Paul White revealed yesterday that he may be forced to remain at the club to help the NRL flagship rebuild after initially planning to leave at the end of 2020 – his 10th season at the helm.
White said the Broncos were in a better position than most clubs after launching pandemic contingency plans a month ago.
But he admitted the game’s postponement had still hit the glamour club hard, with some staff on their $22 million payroll made redundant and others taking ‘‘large’’ salary cuts including himself and head coach Anthony Seibold.
‘‘It is a really tough time for our industry.
‘‘We are in a fight for our survival as a game, and for us as a club,’’ White said.
‘‘I’m here on my battling lone and not doing a great deal.’’ Stephen Kearney