The pregnant wife of NZ Warriors star David Fusitu'a has thanked the NRL club for allowing her husband to return home.
Fusitu'a is one of four Warriors players who will return to Auckland on July 27, after the match against the two-time defending champion Sydney Roosters.
The players had committed to staying until July 19, but a lack of flights will see them stranded for an extra week.
The NRL and Warriors have tried to gain travel exemptions for players' families, but were thwarted by global travel restrictions, with a second COVID-19 wave hammering Victoria, and now New South Wales.
Eden Fusitu'a, who is past the halfway stage of her pregnancy, has tweeted that she needs her husband home to support her.
"For my health and the health of our baby, we need David home," she posted. "We've needed him home for a while.
"Ngā mihi [thanks] @NZWarriors, @RLPlayers, [coach] Todd [Payten], the welfare staff and the players for being so understanding and supportive.
"And David, for being the best husband and soon to be dad."
Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa are also returning to New Zealand, where they will have to spend two weeks in quarantine, before seeing their families.
Forward Levaha Pulu returned to Auckland earlier this month, after his pregnant wife was involved in a minor car accident.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George says, due to Australia's current COVID-19 situation, players returning or currently in New Zealand are unlikely to feature again this season.
Coach Payten says once the quartet depart, they will have only 22 fit players to choose from, but the club hopes to have loan players signed up before then.
While the Warriors can't afford to lose any more players, unwanted playmaker Blake Green could leave before the August signing deadline, if he secures a longer-term deal elsewhere.
Earlier this month, club owner Mark Robinson announced Green wouldn't be re-signed next season.
While he's reluctant to let an experienced player go, Payten says he wouldn't stand in Green's way.
"I'd be hesitant to let him go, but I know the club has told him, if he was to get a deal longer than his current deal, on the proviso that he has to go now, with the service that he's given the club, it would be very hard to stand in his way," says Payten.
"At the moment, I think he understands the predicament we're in. I'd be really hesitant to see him go."
Teams have until August 2 to sign players from other teams.
The Warriors are also one of four teams linked to NZ international Corey Harawira-Naera, who had his NRL contract re-registered on appeal earlier this week.
Before the season started, the 25-year-old - alongside Canterbury Bulldogs teammate Jayden Okunbor - was sacked, after inviting two schoolgirls back to the team hotel on their pre-season trip to Port Macquarie.
Harawira-Naera has reportedly told Bulldogs officials he doesn't want to play for the club again when eligible to play again next weekend.
Along with the Warriors, Wests Tigers, Canberra Raiders and St George Illawarra Dragons are also interested in the three-test forward.
But the Warriors will likely miss out, with the Bulldogs reportedly considering a swap deal to the Dragons in exchange for centre Tim Lafai.
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