Administrators of NZ professional teams playing across the Tasman are becoming increasingly frustrated.
COVID-19 has forced NZ Warriors, NZ Breakers and Wellington Phoenix to spend much of the last couple of years based in Australia, leaving behind families, friends and fans.
They insist that model isn't sustainable, but it's not as simple as just bringing them back home.
As the Phoenix women stepped back into Auckland airport, they hoped this would be the last time they would spend so long away from home.
"It was tough," says coach Gemma Lewis. "Like, it was really, really tough."
Theirs was an inaugural season like no other. Based in Australia, they were forced to build a culture and following away from New Zealand.
"It was challenging," says Lewis. "To be honest, there's not much of a blueprint for it, in terms of most people walk into a team that's already established."
While general manager David Dome assumes the women will be able to play at home next season, he's still determined to get the men back to Wellington later this campaign, but that would require a move out of COVID 'red light' protocols.
"It's pointless otherwise," he says. "The reason you bring them back is so that fans can go see them."
The Breakers have also been based across the ditch for the last two seasons, while the Warriors are about to kick off their third NRL competition in Australia.
"We simply can't just come home and turn the lights on," says chief executive Cam George. "We've got to come home and excite the nation, and inspire the nation and the next generation. We've got to come home and take some ground off our competitors."
Not just ground, but cash as well. All clubs agree, being based in Australia is financially unsustainable.
"It's in the millions," says Dome. "There's no doubt about it.
"It's cost us millions to relocate teams, both the men's and the women's teams this year. It's not just the cost, it's the lost revenue as well."
The Warriors are adamant they'll have a homecoming, albeit far later than they initially planned, with July 3 circled on the calendar.
"It's lifesaving to go home," says George.
So that the next generation can be inspired as well.
"We're just scratching the surface," says Lewis, but now it just needs to be a surface at home.
