Warriors ready to face Dragons
Auckland side have made wholesale changes for their first game of the revised season
It’s back! After weeks of will they or won’t they, bizarre bubble plans, and government exemptions, the Warriors will finally play in the NRL. They take on St George Illawarra at Central Coast Stadium from 5pm today
In case you missed it, here’s some of what the Warriors had to go through to get here during a pandemic:
■ Warriors players had to leave their families behind to be based in Australia, with the prospect of not seeing their loved ones for up to six months
■ The Warriors underwent a twoweek quarantine period in Tamworth after they received a government exemption to fly into Australia
■ They also received special dispensation from the NRL to loan rival players after four middle forwards were ruled out with injury
Stephen Kearney’s side are finally ready to go and are hoping to bounce back from two straight losses before the season was suspended.
The Dragons have also struggled with two losses in a row and sit only two places above the Warriors in the NRL ladder in13th.
The Warriors have made wholesale changes for their first game of the revised season.
Kiwis international Gerard Beale returns from knee injury, while backs Patrick Herbert and Peta Hiku also rejoin the starting lineup.
They replace Adam Pompey, injured Adam Keighran and David Fusitu’a, who is still in quarantine after arriving late in Australia because of personal reasons.
Kodi Nikorima got the nod in the halves alongside halfback Blake Green, with Chanel Harristavita starting from the bench.
Former Warrior Issac Luke won’t get a shot at facing his old club after being left out of the Dragons’ 21-man squad, with coach Paul Mcgregor explaining that Luke had been ill.
Luke was tested and cleared for Covid-19 but didn’t make the squad as he had missed several training sessions.
Meanwhile, the season resumed with ther Parramatta Eels thumping the Brisbane Broncos 34-6 on Thursday night in a fast, frenzied encounter in Brisbane as several rule changes made for a spectator-friendly experience.
The players were blowing hard at the end of a match with far fewer stoppages than normal and overseas viewers liked what they saw.
NFL reporter Cam Inman, who covers the San Francisco 49ers for the San Jose Mercury, was one such international observer to give rugby league his tick of approval, even working in a topical mention of “social distancing” to describe his take on the action.
“Loved it. Athletes colliding into each other at full speed again. Excellent ‘social distancing’ led to
the superb try to @Theparraeels ahead halftime,” Inman tweeted. put
at
“I blissfully still don’t understand all the rules. (I streamed last 20 minutes, once awoken by our cat’s snoring at 3am).”
Welsh reporter Anthony Lewis referred to “Parramatta smashing the Broncos in Brisbane“, adding: “You may say it’s only sport but I think it’s a huge morale boost for a lot of people.”
American news wire service Associated Press wrote: “With the sound of skin slapping skin and an echoing oomph of air escaping lungs as players collided at pace, the National Rugby League led the charge for elite sports returning to action in Australia.”