Tuesday is shaping as a crucial day for NZ Warriors, with an ARL Commission meeting set to determine their immediate to mid-term future.
That future will almost certainly be in Australia.
Newshub understands the club isn't confident anyone will be able to return to New Zealand any time soon, with the Commission set to keep them in Australia for 2022.
Players, particularly their new signings, will have family in Australia, but others, as well as staff will not.
With pre-season starting in November, it’s understood no one in the Warriors' bubble of approximately 90 players and staff will be coming home due to limited MIQ spots.
Players, staff and their families will continue to live in their current base in Queensland after their final game of the season against Gold Coast Titans this week, where they'll remain for the foreseeable future.
The NRL has committed to covering the costs of the team's stay, which is sure to ease the financial burden on the club, which hasn't hosted a home game in Auckland since August 2019.
A proposal to be based in New Zealand next year has also been handed to the commission, but with the current border restrictions and high levels of COVID-19 cases in both countries, this is looking increasingly unlikely.
They were forced to abandon their homecoming against the Bulldogs earlier this month, but more 'fly in-fly out' games are shaping as the most viable option to get the club back to Mount Smart next season, if they’re to play there at all.
The Warriors preference for their next long term location is Redcliffe, due to the club’s relationship with the Dolphins.
The club hopes a decision will be reached sooner rather than later to provide the group with some certainty moving forward.
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