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Warriors CEO Cameron George will follow up on a report that the NRL are looking at giving the club 24 home games next season.
It was mentioned in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday that as a way of saying thank you to the Warriors for the sacrifices they’ve made this year, an option being floated is letting the team stay in New Zealand for the entire 2021 season.
George told Stuff that he hadn’t spoken to the NRL about this proposal, but obviously liked the sound of it.
“It would be interesting to see the NRL and other clubs welcoming us having more home games,” George said.
“I haven’t had any discussions with the NRL about that, but if that was a possibility, I’d be driving as hard as I can to make sure we get a look at that.”
The Warriors playing any games in New Zealand next year would be subject to a trans-Tasman bubble going up, but if Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’Landys pushed for the Warriors to be given 24 home games next season, then there would be a good chance of it happening.
The other clubs may publicly say they’d support this initiative, but privately could be against giving the Warriors any advantage.
Wins will be harder to come by for the Warriors once for more players go home next week.
From next week the Warriors will be looking for five loan players to bring in, replacing the four going home after the game against the Roosters on Saturday, plus Leivaha Pulu who’s already back in New Zealand.
However, it could be that the club can’t get any loan players in as the other 15 teams hold onto their players.
While coaches are saying to the media that they’re keen to help out the Warriors, privately they’re not interested in letting players go.
“It’s becoming extremely difficult to get loan players, because clubs are starting to protect their playing group, going towards the finals,” George said.
“They’re starting to take a precautionary measure, as opposed to letting go and play.
“We’re hopeful. I spoke to Peter O’Sullivan (Warriors recruitment manager) and he’s trying to find people, but it’s getting difficult now.
Speaking after beating the Warriors 46-10 on Sunday, Sharks coach John Morris said he hoped NRL clubs would loan players to the Warriors, but then added he wouldn’t himself.
“Most coaches have said publicly that they’d be happy to support it,” Morris said.
“The problem is, clubs are getting decimated with injuries themselves.
“I would gladly look at lending a player, but we’re the same, we struggle to have 24-25 players on the field at training. It’s hard to have 13 on 13 at training, which most sides like to do.”
Giving how under resourced the Warriors will soon be in terms of players, there could be more heavy defeats for the team over the second half of the season.
However, George said Todd Payten’s position as interim head coach isn’t under threat.
“Todd under the circumstances, along with Stacey (Jones), Tony (Iro) and Justin (Morgan) are doing a fantastic job over there,” he said.
“Let’s not forget the staff are going through exactly the same challenges as the players, in terms of sacrifices and being away from their families.
“Our staff are doing an amazing job and after our four players come home, we’ve got 21-22 players left.”
For the Warriors’ fans, it’s not easy watching them struggle every week, but it’s a case of getting through this season and being ready for 2021.
“Our message is we know where we’re going,” George said
“We’re going through a lot of challenges, but so are a lot of people in this world at the moment.
“We’ve got to stay the course, support each other and when we come out the other end, we’ve got to make sure the support is ongoing and we go into our next phase, which is recruiting and appointing of staff and players and then bounce into next year.
“Maybe we’re going to have 24 games here, which would be fantastic.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/...iors-all-home-games-next-season-to-say-thanks
It was mentioned in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday that as a way of saying thank you to the Warriors for the sacrifices they’ve made this year, an option being floated is letting the team stay in New Zealand for the entire 2021 season.
George told Stuff that he hadn’t spoken to the NRL about this proposal, but obviously liked the sound of it.
“It would be interesting to see the NRL and other clubs welcoming us having more home games,” George said.
“I haven’t had any discussions with the NRL about that, but if that was a possibility, I’d be driving as hard as I can to make sure we get a look at that.”
The Warriors playing any games in New Zealand next year would be subject to a trans-Tasman bubble going up, but if Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’Landys pushed for the Warriors to be given 24 home games next season, then there would be a good chance of it happening.
The other clubs may publicly say they’d support this initiative, but privately could be against giving the Warriors any advantage.
Wins will be harder to come by for the Warriors once for more players go home next week.
From next week the Warriors will be looking for five loan players to bring in, replacing the four going home after the game against the Roosters on Saturday, plus Leivaha Pulu who’s already back in New Zealand.
However, it could be that the club can’t get any loan players in as the other 15 teams hold onto their players.
While coaches are saying to the media that they’re keen to help out the Warriors, privately they’re not interested in letting players go.
“It’s becoming extremely difficult to get loan players, because clubs are starting to protect their playing group, going towards the finals,” George said.
“They’re starting to take a precautionary measure, as opposed to letting go and play.
“We’re hopeful. I spoke to Peter O’Sullivan (Warriors recruitment manager) and he’s trying to find people, but it’s getting difficult now.
Speaking after beating the Warriors 46-10 on Sunday, Sharks coach John Morris said he hoped NRL clubs would loan players to the Warriors, but then added he wouldn’t himself.
“Most coaches have said publicly that they’d be happy to support it,” Morris said.
“The problem is, clubs are getting decimated with injuries themselves.
“I would gladly look at lending a player, but we’re the same, we struggle to have 24-25 players on the field at training. It’s hard to have 13 on 13 at training, which most sides like to do.”
Giving how under resourced the Warriors will soon be in terms of players, there could be more heavy defeats for the team over the second half of the season.
However, George said Todd Payten’s position as interim head coach isn’t under threat.
“Todd under the circumstances, along with Stacey (Jones), Tony (Iro) and Justin (Morgan) are doing a fantastic job over there,” he said.
“Let’s not forget the staff are going through exactly the same challenges as the players, in terms of sacrifices and being away from their families.
“Our staff are doing an amazing job and after our four players come home, we’ve got 21-22 players left.”
For the Warriors’ fans, it’s not easy watching them struggle every week, but it’s a case of getting through this season and being ready for 2021.
“Our message is we know where we’re going,” George said
“We’re going through a lot of challenges, but so are a lot of people in this world at the moment.
“We’ve got to stay the course, support each other and when we come out the other end, we’ve got to make sure the support is ongoing and we go into our next phase, which is recruiting and appointing of staff and players and then bounce into next year.
“Maybe we’re going to have 24 games here, which would be fantastic.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/...iors-all-home-games-next-season-to-say-thanks
