Vodafone Warriors CEO Cameron George says the New Zealand Government’s decision to quash the self-isolation requirement for travellers from Australia is a positive step forward and provides optimism for the four NRL games scheduled to be played at Mount Smart Stadium from July 3 to go ahead.
However, he cautions this won’t see the club relocate back to New Zealand for the 2022 NRL season from its current base in Redcliffe, Queensland.
“Throughout this pandemic, our foremost priority has been to ensure we have stability for our players and their families while also doing what’s best for the competition,” he said.
“While we are heartened by this news and the prospect of playing games at Mount Smart later in the season, we are committed to beginning our 2022 campaign in Australia and our six home games scheduled to be played in Redcliffe.
“This will allow sufficient time for these entry policies to become established and for New Zealand to move past the peak of its Omicron outbreak such that crowds will be able to return to live venues.”
The Vodafone Warriors’ four scheduled games at Mount Smart Stadium are against Wests Tigers (July 3), Melbourne (July 29), Canterbury Bankstown (August 12) and Gold Coast (September 3).
