Warriors caretaker Todd Payten concedes players leaving to return home to Auckland is a possibility – and he won’t stand in their way.
Playing their first game since the shock sacking of Stephen Kearney, the Warriors looked like a deflated outfit in Friday’s 50-6 demolition to Melbourne.
Kearney’s sacking prompted speculation some players, who have spent almost two months away from New Zealand, are considering immediately going home.
“There’s a possibility that may happen. I’m not going to stand in their way. I don’t think any of us will stand in their way,” Payten said.
“But we’ll cross that when it happens.”
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Players and staff will meet with NRL officials on Saturday to address their concerns, chief of which is allowing families to fly over to their base in Gosford.
Players with families based in Australia have been already entered camp, adding to the frustrations of those who are away from relatives.
It is understood the league is trying to work with federal authorities on granting exemptions for players’ families to fly across the Tasman.
“The thing that’s getting them at the moment is the uncertainty around the families and are they coming over,” Payten said.
“Another hard thing is that Australian families, they’re already here, so they can see that around them.
“We’re actually having a meeting tomorrow with a couple of big dogs at the NRL to have some clarity around that. That’s where things are at at the moment.
“So we’ll know more tomorrow.”
Payten said the team’s current displacement, as well as Kearney’s surprise departure, was no reason for their limp effort against the Storm.
“Everyone misses their family, that’s still not a good enough reason to perform the way we’re performing,” Payten said.
“That should be the reason why we’re actually pull our finger out and fight our butt off, is to do our families justice, to all the people back home.”
Payten questioned their commitment following the defeat, and threatened to make changes based on defensive desire.
“I did tell the lads downstairs that the team will be picked on effort and defensive capabilities moving forward,” he said.
“If they’re willing to put themselves in the picture on effort, and fight and scrap, then yeah… I don’t care what they offer us from an attack point of view.”
Melbourne captain Cameron Smith and coach Craig Bellamy both addressed the Warriors players after the game.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Under normal circumstances definitely not. Players have way too much say as it is but we are not in normal circumstances. Call it a risk assessment. There is far more to lose than there is to gain
Jacko
Guest
Are you suggesting a coach should keep his job because he is popular with the players? Crazy......
Davico
Roar Pro
What a ridiculous thing to say. So now you are putting a price on how much players love their families??? Seriously!
Davico
Roar Pro
So you don't see an connection with a popular coach (father figure to young athletes) being sacked, and players being even more adamant to get back to their families?? With everything they and Kearney himself have sacrificed, to see someone they respect and who is going through the same thing as them just be cast aside you don't think that would affect their thinking and emotions?
Paul
Roar Guru
I can't see a connection between players wanting to have close contact with family and a popular coach being sacked? Bear in mind all that's happened is Todd Payten making statements about allowing players to go back to New Zealand, because they want to be close to family. At this stage it's only talk.
Davico
Roar Pro
Not sure the sacking of a very popular coach is a peripheral issue for a team that has been stuck together in isolation for 9 weeks.
In brief
Guest
Interesting comparison..
Verfel
Roar Rookie
Nine weeks, remember they had to self isolate! Secondly, they made the sacrifice to keep the RL keep going. I think it's very unfair that their families have not been called for by now! As promised !! Most of them are very young and have newborns at home with young WAG's trying to manage on their own. So I'm not surprised they are up and down, plus having their coach taken from them without warning...
RoryStorm
Guest
Walter Black your comment was spot on. The Warriors had no luck last night in the first half otherwise they could very well have been in front at half time. They never stopped trying at and couple or more of the Storms's tries were from pure luck. Those two missed tries by a very small margin could have had the Warriors leading the Storm. So what if IT guys are away from their families for long periods, they know that when they accept the job. They can only blame themselves for being stranded in India as our government warned all citizens overseas to come home "now" as the borders were going to be closed. The Warriors are doing us a big, big favour by playing on in Australia. The teams are not all competing from an equal stand point as in being able to go home after the game to their families. I thank the Warriors for the sacrifice they have made so far and would not begrudge them if they went home.
Micko
Roar Rookie
One can only assume one major reason would be to be top of the queue to get the best coach available.
Nick
Roar Guru
Pathetic comparison.
Nick
Roar Guru
And those players on multi month tours weren't kept in isolation either... Crayons couldn't explain it to you
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I get that but wait to the end of the season. Are you saying they done this to deliberately stir up the discontent?
Walter Black
Guest
The Warriors have new owners and I think they have little regard for the the current group. In addition to sacking their coach, they have 13 players off contract at the end of this season so if I were one of them, I would be sounding out other clubs right now.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
For the life of me I couldn’t understand the reasoning. They got touched up by Souths sure, but they were also 2-2 since the season recommenced. It’s not exactly an ideal situation set up for winning that they find themselves in either. I get that Kearney would’ve been on thin ice after how they started the season, but imo the situation warranted him keeping the job for 2020.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
This is why sacking a popular coach when they did has me scratching my head. The situation is very fragile to begin with so why risk making it worse when there is really nothing to be gained. Does anyone think that not having Kearney in charge is going to have any positive effect on the rest of 2020?
Walter Black
Guest
Just following up on what I said above, I just came across this stat "The Warriors missed 35 tackles to the Storm’s 30 as they also made 13 errors to the Storm’s ten" 5 more missed tackles and 3 more errors against one of the best teams in the comp isn't exactly grounds for slitting your own wrists. Something to work on yes but doesn't exactly warrant this comment from their coach "Payten questioned their commitment following the defeat, and threatened to make changes based on defensive desire"
Walter Black
Guest
You are right BD, that is why Payten shouldn't get the job full time. There are times that you read the riot act but I don't think that last night was one of those times. Bellamy is uncompromising in what he demands of his players and his sprays are famous but he knows how to look after his guys and rewards commitment. If you are going to give your guys a spray, make sure they deserve it first.
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
it might do the worriors good sure there are more players the warriors could borrow or find to step up and play. seems like they would be kernney supporters who want to leave
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If they were near the top of the table and thinking about a title they wouldn't dream of going home I suspect. It might actually be a good thing if half a dozen players go home and are replaced by some of the talent who aren't getting a run now at other clubs. If the Storm had Harry Grant lurking in the shadows you can bet he isn't the only decent player who is or was currently surplus to requirements. The Tigers just released Corey Thompson who is pretty handy. How about some of the Union players who are looking for a game? Give them some salary cap help as well.