Warriors start making significant plans to spend 2021 in Redcliffe, Queensland
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Warriors wing Ken Maumalo was one of five players who returned to New Zealand to be with his family.
The NRL and Warriors last week started work on contingency plans for the club having to spend another year in Australia.
With so much uncertainty about when a trans-Tasman bubble will go up, the club and the NRL began talks on what lies ahead for the Warriors in 2021.
If the Warriors can’t be in New Zealand, they are looking to base themselves in Redcliffe, 30km north of central Brisbane and the club already has a relationship with the Redcliffe Dolphins, who play in the Queensland Cup.
The obvious preference is for the Warriors to be back in New Zealand next year, but rather than wait until closer to the start of the 2021 season, the club wants to make plans now, partly so they’re well prepared and also to capitalise on any revenue opportunities.
There are three major considerations that need sorting out for next season.
One is government regulations, which would include the players and their families being able to travel together to Australia, those without New Zealand citizenship would be able to return to Auckland afterwards.
Tony Feder/Getty Images
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ended up as the only Kiwi player with the Warriors who wasn't with his family this season.
The latter initially stopped Tongan Eliesa Katoa and the Fijian born Selestino Ravutaumada from retuning to New Zealand at the end of the season.
Stuff understands Ravutaumada has now been granted exemption to return to New Zealand, but Katoa is still in limbo.
There are also the financial aspects of the team being based in Australia for another year.
Firstly there is the huge cost of having at team living in Australia, which the NRL picked up the multi million dollar tab for this year. Then there’s the loss of income the Warriors have to live with.
But the reality is if the club wants to stay in the NRL and there’s no border arrangements, they’ll have to relocate again to Australia, if not, they risk losing their licence.
The Warriors have received huge public support from both sides of the Tasman and captured the hearts and minds of people, because of the efforts and sacrifices made.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
The Warriors rushed to get everything organised for their move to Tamworth this year. Next time, they want to be better prepared.
But that doesn’t transfer into money into the club’s coffers.
This year the Warriors couldn’t sell tickets to games, memberships or corporate packages.
The Warriors usually sell more jerseys than any other NRL club, but without home games merchandise sales have dried up.
A few months ago, when it looked like Australia and New Zealand had both eradicated the coronavirus, the Warriors were making plans to host games late in the season at Mt Smart Stadium.
It would have given the club a financial boost similar to the one the New Zealand Super Rugby clubs received, but once cases emerged again in Australia all hopes for that were dashed.
So the club has wisely, but reluctantly started working on a Plan B for 2021.
JESS BLAIR/INSTAGRAM/Stuff
The photo of Adam Blair with his son Taika as he left New Zealand in May highlighted the sacrifices the Warriors' players and their families have made.
This would include the team having two preseason camps next year. One in Redcliffe for the Australian players and one in Auckland for the Kiwis.
Closer to the start of the season, the team would come together at their new base at Dolphin Stadium, which has a capacity for 10,000 spectators and it would be even more of a home away from home than the Central Coast has been this season.
There’s no suggestion of renaming the club Redcliffe Warriors and it’s vital the team retains its identity and New Zealand fanbase.
There would be some staff that would remain in New Zealand, like those that work in the finance community and digital parts of the club, but others like CEO Cameron George and those who work on game day activities would need to relocate to Australia.
The NRL is keen to see how it would all work as it’s considering having a second Brisbane team.
This would allow the NRL to have a trial run, to see how the city responds to hosting two clubs and the draw would be scheduled so that the Warriors play home games when the Broncos are away, so there’s a game in the city every weekend.
If the border was to open up halfway through the season, the Warriors would move back to Auckland to play games at Mt Smart Stadium as soon as possible.
But for now the Warriors are being prudent in preparing for another year away from home.
Getty Images
Warriors wing Ken Maumalo was one of five players who returned to New Zealand to be with his family.
The NRL and Warriors last week started work on contingency plans for the club having to spend another year in Australia.
With so much uncertainty about when a trans-Tasman bubble will go up, the club and the NRL began talks on what lies ahead for the Warriors in 2021.
If the Warriors can’t be in New Zealand, they are looking to base themselves in Redcliffe, 30km north of central Brisbane and the club already has a relationship with the Redcliffe Dolphins, who play in the Queensland Cup.
The obvious preference is for the Warriors to be back in New Zealand next year, but rather than wait until closer to the start of the 2021 season, the club wants to make plans now, partly so they’re well prepared and also to capitalise on any revenue opportunities.
There are three major considerations that need sorting out for next season.
One is government regulations, which would include the players and their families being able to travel together to Australia, those without New Zealand citizenship would be able to return to Auckland afterwards.
Tony Feder/Getty Images
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ended up as the only Kiwi player with the Warriors who wasn't with his family this season.
The latter initially stopped Tongan Eliesa Katoa and the Fijian born Selestino Ravutaumada from retuning to New Zealand at the end of the season.
Stuff understands Ravutaumada has now been granted exemption to return to New Zealand, but Katoa is still in limbo.
There are also the financial aspects of the team being based in Australia for another year.
Firstly there is the huge cost of having at team living in Australia, which the NRL picked up the multi million dollar tab for this year. Then there’s the loss of income the Warriors have to live with.
But the reality is if the club wants to stay in the NRL and there’s no border arrangements, they’ll have to relocate again to Australia, if not, they risk losing their licence.
The Warriors have received huge public support from both sides of the Tasman and captured the hearts and minds of people, because of the efforts and sacrifices made.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
The Warriors rushed to get everything organised for their move to Tamworth this year. Next time, they want to be better prepared.
But that doesn’t transfer into money into the club’s coffers.
This year the Warriors couldn’t sell tickets to games, memberships or corporate packages.
The Warriors usually sell more jerseys than any other NRL club, but without home games merchandise sales have dried up.
A few months ago, when it looked like Australia and New Zealand had both eradicated the coronavirus, the Warriors were making plans to host games late in the season at Mt Smart Stadium.
It would have given the club a financial boost similar to the one the New Zealand Super Rugby clubs received, but once cases emerged again in Australia all hopes for that were dashed.
So the club has wisely, but reluctantly started working on a Plan B for 2021.
JESS BLAIR/INSTAGRAM/Stuff
The photo of Adam Blair with his son Taika as he left New Zealand in May highlighted the sacrifices the Warriors' players and their families have made.
This would include the team having two preseason camps next year. One in Redcliffe for the Australian players and one in Auckland for the Kiwis.
Closer to the start of the season, the team would come together at their new base at Dolphin Stadium, which has a capacity for 10,000 spectators and it would be even more of a home away from home than the Central Coast has been this season.
There’s no suggestion of renaming the club Redcliffe Warriors and it’s vital the team retains its identity and New Zealand fanbase.
There would be some staff that would remain in New Zealand, like those that work in the finance community and digital parts of the club, but others like CEO Cameron George and those who work on game day activities would need to relocate to Australia.
The NRL is keen to see how it would all work as it’s considering having a second Brisbane team.
This would allow the NRL to have a trial run, to see how the city responds to hosting two clubs and the draw would be scheduled so that the Warriors play home games when the Broncos are away, so there’s a game in the city every weekend.
If the border was to open up halfway through the season, the Warriors would move back to Auckland to play games at Mt Smart Stadium as soon as possible.
But for now the Warriors are being prudent in preparing for another year away from home.
