NRL: Why Warriors' homecoming match was cancelled

The Warriors have been dealt with another significant blow, with the Covid-19 outbreak in New South Wales forcing cancellation of their homecoming match next month.

The game in Auckland was set to be a wonderful occasion, with a sell-out crowd expected for their first home game in almost two years.

It would have been an appropriate farewell for captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and provide a much-needed financial boost.

But that's off the table, in the wake of the enforced move (for a minimum period of one month) to Queensland for all NSW clubs, which was confirmed by the NRL on Sunday.

"Under the circumstances, it just became too difficult to try and manage through [where] we are in the immediate future," said Warriors chief executive Cameron George. "And furthermore what it looks like beyond that because there's so much uncertainty.

"This decision was not taken lightly, but it's the best decision in the circumstances for our players," added George, who stressed it was "really disheartening."

To mitigate against further upheaval, the club has decided to relocate permanently to the Sunshine State, remaining on the Gold Coast for the final eight rounds of their season, rather than returning to their current Central Coast base at some stage.

"We go for an indefinite period and leave stuff here and units and so on so it was going to make it pretty challenging for us," said George. "We're trying to eliminate as best we can the sort of negative and put on the table the best way forward to try and provide stability in an uncertain time."

The players were told of the new plans immediately after their 20-12 defeat to the Sharks on Sunday evening

"For the last 10 minutes of the game I was on a zoom call with the NRL," said George. "[The players] all came into the dressing room head down and post my discussion with them their heads were further down."

In most cases, families will be able to relocate with them, though partners and children will have to spend 14 days quarantined in a separate location upon entry to Queensland, before they can be reunited.

That's because the current regulations allow only 41 people (30 players and 11 staff) to enter the NRL hub after moving interstate.

There may be further complications for Kodi Nikorima and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, with their partners due to give birth in the coming weeks.

"They're all challenges," said George. "But to their credit, they're looking at the options and we're working with the NRL around options. But then you've got government policy, which is no discretion, and rightly so. It's black and white. There are certain things NRL can help us with and other things the government just controls."

Four Warriors' players returned home last season due to personal issues after being marooned away from family but George was hopeful that could be avoided this time.

"Different individuals are going to handle it in their own way," said George. "We just have to make sure we have the support around the team and the staff, so they can operate in the best way they can. I'm confident the group are very solid, though the sacrifices are going to be coming thick and fast."

Twelve members of staff will also be excluded from the initial move into Queensland, though the club is negotiating with the NRL to lift their designated limit of eleven.