Having gone through the Auckland floods and then cyclone Gabrielle I can understand some of the players staying back. That month in Auckland when there was rain forecast you could see people prepping their houses with sandbags etc. We have been renovating to make our house warmer and some of that would have helped with the weather. Even then certain parts hadn't been worked on and we had an issue so being home means you can deal with it as it is happening.
Each families situation is different.
Nikorima for example with his wife pregnant and potentially being alone with young kids.
On NRL360 last week they mentioned the NRL offering to put the families up in a hotel. I think some of the families pushed back that it wasn't long enough. Again everyone's situation is different.
I do think some of the NRL360 discussion was off. Yes, it is different to covid. But now you can look back at covid with the benefit of hindsight. Back then people were worried. Our guys could have been stuck in Australia while family members passed away back in NZ. Also all of the stories from our guys from that period. Things like cars left at Mt Smart, getting staff to move belongings into storage, getting dogs from the SPCA so they can go outside.
I saw one comment on a video. Dolphins worried about 24 hours the Warriors were away for a year. Love the sentiment but it was 3 seasons our side was away from home.