NZ Warriors staff and players seem to have adopted a 'roll with the punches' attitude to their latest COVID-19 crisis - the prospect of a third NRL season based across the Tasman next year.
The Auckland club has not hosted a 'home' game at Mt Smart Stadium since August 2019 and had its scheduled homecoming game against Canterbury Bulldogs relocated to Redcliffe last month, as the trans-Tasman travel bubble crumbled with renewed outbreaks on both sides of the ditch.
High-level discussions this week were expected to determine the fate of the wandering Warriors, with the team expected to remain in Australia in 2022 and personnel largely unable to return home in the meantime, due to a shortage of managed isolation spots.
Coach Nathan Brown accepts the uncertainty is not ideal and has called for clarity soon over where his team will be based.
"To be fair to the guys and their partners, everyone seems to have collectively handled it very well," says Brown. "Some of the partners have moved kids to multiple schools - different countries, different schools, different states - so there's been a lot of pressure on them.
"That's one big reason we need some certainy over where we will be for 12 months - for the partners, who have been through a lot , whether it's been 12 months or two years.
"From a playing group's point of view, having everyone together for pre-season is really important to lay some good foundations.
"It's certainly had some challenges, but from a group point of view, the happiness has been great and energy at training, more often than not, has been very good - not everything's perfect.
"We've got some difficult situations - we've got a number of staff members who have been here two years with their families over in New Zealand, which is never easy."
If they stay in Australia, Brown also hopes his team will return home as often as borders allow to rekindle their connection with frustrated fans.
"My understanding is there would definitely be an element of games in New Zealand as part of the deal, if staying over here is the best thing. It's something the club definitely wants to do and I would think the NRL would want us to do that as well, because the game in New Zealand is important to the make-up of the competition.
"If the borders were clear, I would imagine there would be numbers of games back in New Zealand."
The Warriors are now mathematically out of playoff contention before their season-ending encounter with Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, and Brown expects some players and families will vacation around Queensland next week.
"Obviously, where we're going to be next year will keep some people busy, whether it's looking for schools and property in Auckland or Queensland," he says. "There will be plenty of things to do in the shorter term, once we know our location.
"Hopefully, we can get some clarity over the next few days, so players can think about what next year looks like and get a bit of a break in between."
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