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Rugby league guru Phil Gould has been granted an exemption to enter New Zealand to work with the Warriors, while CEO Cameron George has confirmed new roles for Stacey Jones and Tony Iro.
Gould, who has joined the Warriors set up in a consultancy role, is prepared to spend two weeks in a New Zealand managed isolation facility, but even though he has permission to enter the country, he can’t get a voucher this side of Christmas.
The club are now working out when it would be best for Gould to come to New Zealand and that could be when the NRL players and staff are in Australia.
“Phil got an exemption last week, but he’s obviously had his Channel Nine commitments through State of Origin,” George told Stuff.
But now we have the issue of lack of quarantine facilities and that’s shut off until Christmas.”
The Warriors have split into two camps for the first part of preseason training, with a third of the team in Kiama, south of Wollongong and the remainder of it in Auckland.
At this stage, the plan is for everyone to assemble in Tamworth around January 4.
“The role Phil is playing with the club is in development and pathways. So I dare say he’ll be over in the near future and he’s prepared to do two weeks in isolation.
Stacey Jones will have a specialist coaching role at the Warriors next season.
“The problems are when he can get over here, where the team will be and who he can work alongside. People like Tony Iro will be able to help him no end to know the local game and structures.”
Iro and Jones had been assistant coaches for the Warriors’ NRL team for the past few seasons.
However, incoming head coach Nathan Brown has decided to only keep Justin Morgan as an assistant, while bring in former Gold Coast Titans interim coach Craig Hodges as his other assistant.
Jones and Iro will remain with the club, but George confirmed they have been moved into new positions.
“Stacey and Tony have been great servants for the club and offer a lot of value,” George said.
“It was really important from Mark (Robinson, Warriors owner) and my perspective that we kept them involved.
“Naturally with a new coach, he wanted to bring in some change and we endorse that, it’s his domain. But we didn’t want to see Stacey and Tony walk out the door.
“So Tony will be looking after what was to be our SG Ball team, he’s got a great passion for developing up and coming players, we felt it was a good fit for him and he was keen to take that role on.
“Stacey is with our club for 2021 in a specialist role. Nathan is really keen to use him throughout the season with our younger players and the halves, focusing on those areas which are key to our overall game plan.
“However, given the situation of the split camps, Stacey being the decent champion he is, is working with us up until Christmas helping out Nathan, because we have staff based in Australia. So we’re pretty skinny on the ground.
“But both Stacey and Tony are a huge part of our club and will play a key role in the development and what happens with our squad.”
If the Warriors’ NRL team goes to Australia in early January, they’re committed to staying there until May 1 and George said Jones will be given the option on whether he goes with them.
“He can float if he wishes,” George said.
“He can do that specialist coaching role from afar if he wants to, or come and join us.
“There’s flexibility in it and it also gives him the opportunity to continue with his role with New Zealand Rugby League and even do a bit more, given it’s World Cup year next year.”
Because of State of Origin happening later than normal this year, the NRL has decided teams can only play one official trial game in 2021.
The Warriors have agreed to a game against the Titans, while they are hoping to confirm a game for the club’s up and coming players against the Storm’s youngsters.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...n-to-join-warriors-in-nz-but-cant-get-voucher
Gould, who has joined the Warriors set up in a consultancy role, is prepared to spend two weeks in a New Zealand managed isolation facility, but even though he has permission to enter the country, he can’t get a voucher this side of Christmas.
The club are now working out when it would be best for Gould to come to New Zealand and that could be when the NRL players and staff are in Australia.
“Phil got an exemption last week, but he’s obviously had his Channel Nine commitments through State of Origin,” George told Stuff.
But now we have the issue of lack of quarantine facilities and that’s shut off until Christmas.”
The Warriors have split into two camps for the first part of preseason training, with a third of the team in Kiama, south of Wollongong and the remainder of it in Auckland.
At this stage, the plan is for everyone to assemble in Tamworth around January 4.
“The role Phil is playing with the club is in development and pathways. So I dare say he’ll be over in the near future and he’s prepared to do two weeks in isolation.
Stacey Jones will have a specialist coaching role at the Warriors next season.
“The problems are when he can get over here, where the team will be and who he can work alongside. People like Tony Iro will be able to help him no end to know the local game and structures.”
Iro and Jones had been assistant coaches for the Warriors’ NRL team for the past few seasons.
However, incoming head coach Nathan Brown has decided to only keep Justin Morgan as an assistant, while bring in former Gold Coast Titans interim coach Craig Hodges as his other assistant.
Jones and Iro will remain with the club, but George confirmed they have been moved into new positions.
“Stacey and Tony have been great servants for the club and offer a lot of value,” George said.
“It was really important from Mark (Robinson, Warriors owner) and my perspective that we kept them involved.
“Naturally with a new coach, he wanted to bring in some change and we endorse that, it’s his domain. But we didn’t want to see Stacey and Tony walk out the door.
“So Tony will be looking after what was to be our SG Ball team, he’s got a great passion for developing up and coming players, we felt it was a good fit for him and he was keen to take that role on.
“Stacey is with our club for 2021 in a specialist role. Nathan is really keen to use him throughout the season with our younger players and the halves, focusing on those areas which are key to our overall game plan.
“However, given the situation of the split camps, Stacey being the decent champion he is, is working with us up until Christmas helping out Nathan, because we have staff based in Australia. So we’re pretty skinny on the ground.
“But both Stacey and Tony are a huge part of our club and will play a key role in the development and what happens with our squad.”
If the Warriors’ NRL team goes to Australia in early January, they’re committed to staying there until May 1 and George said Jones will be given the option on whether he goes with them.
“He can float if he wishes,” George said.
“He can do that specialist coaching role from afar if he wants to, or come and join us.
“There’s flexibility in it and it also gives him the opportunity to continue with his role with New Zealand Rugby League and even do a bit more, given it’s World Cup year next year.”
Because of State of Origin happening later than normal this year, the NRL has decided teams can only play one official trial game in 2021.
The Warriors have agreed to a game against the Titans, while they are hoping to confirm a game for the club’s up and coming players against the Storm’s youngsters.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...n-to-join-warriors-in-nz-but-cant-get-voucher
