Warriors ‘the lucky ones’

Warriors second rower Tohu Harris admits it’s tough being away from his wife and son, while stranded in Australia with his team-mates, but says they’re the lucky ones.

No one knows how long the Warriors players will have to spend in Australia, while the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause devastation and chaos around the world.

But the Warriors players have made a commitment to continue playing in the NRL for as long as this situation lasts, even if that means they’re separated from their loved ones.

‘‘It’s hard being away from family, but we just have to get on with it,’’ Harris told Stuff.

‘‘It’s a situation that’s out of our control, it’s a hand that’s been dealt and we need to focus on the footy side of things.

‘‘When it comes to training and playing, we need to make sure we’re still preparing as much as we can during the week to perform on the weekends.

‘‘That part of it doesn’t change, the hard part is not being able to see your family. But the NRL and the Warriors have done some great things to make it as easy as possible on our families and on us as a playing group.

‘‘It’s a situation that’s really tough, but there are people in communities that are doing it tougher.

‘‘So we have to consider ourselves as lucky at this point and we need to make sure we continue to do our jobs for as long as we’ve got one.’’

The Warriors lost 20-6 to the Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday, their second straight loss. Given the situation the players are in, it wouldn’t be a shock if this turns out to be a disappointing season, but Harris says they’re determined to do as well as they can.

‘‘There is no excuses for our performances,’’ he said.

‘‘We don’t get to see our families, that’s really hard, but that’s something we have to manage and deal with.

‘‘But we’ve still got two arms, two legs. We still know how to play football, it’s about applying ourselves as best as we can through the week and then performing on the weekend.

‘‘There is no excuses for not tuning up each week, as hard as it is not seeing family.

‘‘I would love to be with mine. I’d love to see my wife and son, but we have to get on with it, because that’s the situation.

‘‘We’re footy players, that’s our job and we need to go out there and do it.’’

‘‘I’d love to see my wife and son, but we have to get on with it.’’ Tohu Harris

Warriors and Canberra Raiders players embrace after their NRL match on the Gold Coast on Saturday, the Warriors’ first since deciding to base themselves in Australia for the season.