More than 2,200 kilometers from Auckland, the Warriors have been calling Terrigal on the Central Coast of New South Wales for more than three months.
Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is separated from his partner and young family.
“I’m lucky to have a strong wife at home,” he said.
“She’s got good support, she’s really good at raising our babies, and it’s the same for everyone.”
The New Zealand team left their lives behind in early May to save the newly started NRL season.
And the players honestly admit how difficult it was.
“This is the hardest thing there will really be,” said center-back Chanel Harris-Tavita.
“Our motto is ‘All In’ and as long as we stick together we will get through this.
“If we can survive this who knows what we can do in Auckland?”
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Some players have families or partners with them, but many only have their teammates.
“It would be nice to have my family here, but I’m trying to catch up with them, I call them once a week and I also have my girlfriend’s support back home,” said Harris-Tavita.
Tuivasa-Sheck is among the remaining senior players still here after Ken Maumalo, David Fusitu’a, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa left last week.
“These boys went home for family reasons and all the boys understood that perfectly. Those who are here are happy to stand out,” said teammate Adam Keighran.
The skipper watches his team closely.
“There are good people around me, I have them too, on whom I can lean and help the boys who are in a place they have never been before,” said Tuivasa-Sheck.
Life in Warrior Lockdown
Approximately 50 players and staff are housed at the Star of the Sea Resort in Terrigal, where they live together, eat all meals and do physical therapy.
“We’re trying to get together at the hotel as much as possible,” said Harris-Tavita.
“There’s a pool table, we have a few board games, and we swim on the beach.”
A local gym has offered its premises for the warriors to exercise, and they also use the Central Coast Stadium.
Players missing their pets have picked up walking dogs from the local pound to pass the time.
“The hospitality for us here has been top notch and makes it a lot easier,” said Wayde Egan, the whore of warriors.
But while you are living in the bubble, winning becomes all the more important.
“When we win the morale is very high and when we lose it is just the opposite – there is a lot of negativity,” said Adam Keighran.
Long term effects
Sports psychiatrist Ian Hickie fears this could have long-term implications for players.
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“You can’t just treat them like machines, like you are a robot, like your family doesn’t matter, your community doesn’t matter, like what’s happening in New Zealand doesn’t matter. We all need support,” said he.
Professor Hickie is co-director of the Brain and Mind Center at the University of Sydney and believes there is a sense of unreality in both the NRL and AFL when they deal with the pandemic.
“It is very unrealistic to take young athletes out of their lives and expect them to cope with it. For many it will be very harmful. The longer it takes, the harder and bigger it is [the] Risk to your sanity, “he said.
The club says it prioritizes player welfare.
“It’s very stressful,” said Cameron George, CEO of Warriors.
“We are currently focused on making sure that the players and staff in Australia are well supported and looked after. Their wellbeing is of the essence.”
Uncertain future
If the warriors reach the top 8, their stay will be extended until October.
“I don’t know what the next six months will look like. If this club is formed from Australia or New Zealand next year, things can change dramatically,” said George.
The club must also find a new head coach after Stephen Kearney was sacked in June.
“There’s no point in appointing a coach to bring your family over and all of a sudden we’re in Australia next year. We need clarity on a lot of issues and we are exploring plans B, C, D and E,” said George.
Fans gather
A constant has been support from fans like husband and wife Jayden and Sandra Penerata, who have been supporters for more than 20 years.
“It’s hard to see what our boys are going through,” said Ms. Penerata from Auckland.
“Here we are at level one, so given the situation in Australia with the virus, they are missing a lot. Many of us cannot believe what we have done and what we continue to do.”
It is difficult for many New Zealanders to understand their position.
“We are very proud of what they have done,” said Penerata.
“We support you through thick and thin. No matter what, we know that you are going through a difficult time [and] We are fully behind you. “
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