Sport

Covid cans Warriors long-awaited home match

17:15 pm on 12 July 2021

The Warriors homecoming has been cancelled, while the NRL league team are on the move again due to Sydney's Covid-19 outbreak.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Increasing case numbers in New South Wales have forced the Warriors to abandone plans for a match against the Bulldogs in Auckland on August 15.

The club also had to leave their Central Coast base by Wednesday and relocate to the Gold Coast for at least four weeks.

The Warriors were one of 12 clubs being relocated to South East Queensland, with each club only allowed 41 people in their biosecure team 'bubble'.

Warriors chief executive Cameron George said the club and the NRL had no option but to abandon their return home.

"We were all desperately looking forward to coming home for the game but the fact is we're in the middle of a new crisis which leaves us with no other decision but to call the game off.

"While this is a huge blow for us as a club as well as for all our members, fans, families and sponsors there is simply too much risk and uncertainty.

"We appreciate the support the NRL gave us trying to make this game possible but we're committed to doing all we can to protect the competition and our players."

Mount Smart Stadium was close to sold out for the match, which would have been the Warriors' first home match in almost two years.