The Warriors were just six months away from LEAVING the NRL as they lived outside NZ for two seasons during the pandemic – as the club’s top management reveal the clever way they stayed sane without breaking Covid rules
- Warriors Reveal Terrible Toll From Pandemic
- NZ side moved to Australia during pandemic
- Side was only six months after the collapse
The New Zealand Warriors have revealed the stunning toll the Covid pandemic has had on the team, admitting that at one point they were just six months away from withdrawing from the competition.
The Warriors have defied all odds this season, winning four of their first five games to finish second on the NRL ladder.
That includes the classic breakout effort against Cronulla on Sunday, with the Kiwis coming down from 20-0 to win 32-30 against the in-form half of Shaun Johnson’s boot.
But not long ago, the Warriors were in deep trouble after being forced to move under difficult circumstances to Australia to ensure the match went on during the Covid lockdowns.
The team lived permanently in Australia for the better part of three seasons, using the NSW Central Coast and Redcliffe in Queensland as their home venues, taking players away from family and friends for months at a time.
The New Zealand Warriors saved the NRL by settling in Australia during the pandemic – but at a staggering cost
The Warriors have defied all odds this season, winning four of their first five games to finish second on the NRL ladder
“The NRL was pretty good for us, but it had to be,” said Warriors owner Mark Robinson News Corp.
“Had it (staying in Australia) been another six months I think it would have come to packing up and getting out of the competition.
Morale was at an all-time low.
“But that would have cost the NRL a lot of money if we had pulled out.
“It was worth $20 million to the NRL when we pulled out over TV rights, so we actually did the NRL a favor.”
The team’s huge sacrifices led to the firing of players and staff as the stress of the situation became too much.
“Families were kept apart and that certainly took its toll on the staff, players and families,” said Cameron George, CEO of Warriors.
“You can read that there were some significant personal challenges.
The team’s immense sacrifices led to the sacking of players and staff. The stress of the situation was too much
At one point, while the squad was based on the NSW Central Coast, players and staff borrowed dogs from an animal shelter so they could go for public walks while adhering to the strict NRL protocols of the time
“You saw it over and over again when players got on the phone from family and felt lost.
“Many of us didn’t want to work today because you didn’t have family to go home to.”
At one point, while the squad was based on the NSW Central Coast, players and staff borrowed dogs from an animal shelter so they could go for public walks while adhering to the strict NRL protocols of the time.
“I don’t think there’s another club that doesn’t have the strong family culture that we have, say Manly or the Panthers, if you tell them to live in New Zealand for a year in one building, with no family, half the team would be back in Australia within a month, I’m sure,” said Robinson.
The Warriors’ start to the season – winning four out of five – is their best since 2018, and only the second since 2003.