Reality is starting to set in for the NZ Warriors, as they come to terms with their long-term absence from home and their families.
The Auckland-based club is set to remain in Australia for the remainder of the NRL season, which resumes on May 28 and ends in October.
With Mother's Day looming on Sunday, homesickness will be immediately tested and forward Tohu Harris admits he's already feeling the strain.
"It was very hard saying goodbye," Harris says, from their Tamworth base.
"My little three-year-old kept asking to come with me, and my wife struggled really bad the night before and the morning with the thought of me leaving, not knowing when we could see each other again.
"That made it hard to get on the plane and it’s still hard being here. I saw a video of my son before we got on this call, asking for me to come home and play with him, so it's hard to be here.
"We don’t have other options at the moment. There are a lot of people that rely on us to be here, so that they can get income and help their families."
The Warriors hope their families will eventually be granted exemption to travel to Australia, where they could join them after their mandatory 14-day coronavirus quarantine.
"We're waiting for the different protocols and calls from the government to come out, to see what our options are in terms of them coming over," Harris adds.
"That’s what I’ve got to keep reminding myself, the reason why I'm here, but it is very hard to be away from my wife and son without seeing them."
Outside training - where they operate in small groups of 10 - there's little else to occupy them, but Harris says the players must ensure their focus remains on the field.
"We can’t look too far ahead," he adds. "We can hope for the best, but we've got to prepare for what's in front of us right now, what the protocols are and adjust once we get told otherwise."
Talks between New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and Australian PM Scott Morrison on the establishment of a trans-Tasman bubble - where each country would be exempt from border restrictions - have inspired hope that the Warriors may yet play some games at Mt Smart this season.
But Harris isn't holding his breath.
"At the moment, we can’t do too much and I don't think it’s looking likely we’ll play games back home, but obviously that would be the best-case scenario.
"We’d love to be able to play games in Auckland at our home ground and be with our families again."
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