Warriors thrown into fresh crisis as star duo lead exodus back to NZ
Star Warriors wingers David Fusitu’a and Ken Maumalo will both return to New Zealand after the NRL failed to help arrange travel exemption for their families.
Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa also look set to leave Australia along with the two try-scoring wingers after next week’s game with Cronulla.
It comes after forward Leivaha Pulu headed back to Auckland after his pregnant wife was involved in a minor car accident after being hit while she was parked on the side of the road.
Coach Todd Payten confirmed last week that the club had given the NRL an ultimatum for special dispensation for the players’ families to travel to Australia.
The relatives of Maumalo, Fusitu’a Paasi and Vuniyayawa were unable to enter Australia owing to COVID-19 restrictions and had threatened to leave after the heavy loss to Melbourne.
They were eventually persuaded to stay on in Australia but have now set a return date to head back to New Zealand.
Maumalo and Paasi are both young fathers and Fusitu’a’s wife is expecting their first child.
In Fox League’s pre-game coverage, Payten confirmed that next week’s clash with the Sharks would be their last game in Australia.
“I think the lads have got their head around that they aren’t going home,” Payten said ahead of kick-off against the Titans.
“With everything going on in Victoria it just looks more and more certain that we’re staying.
“There’s a few guys who have expressed that they need to go home for family reasons which is understandable and we’ve given them a promise that can happen after the Cronulla game.”
Payten then said after Friday’s loss to the Titans that he plans to honour the promise he made to the four players.
“I’ve given them my word, that if we don’t have a clear outcome from the government or NRL then they can go home,” he said.
“It’ll put pressure on us but at the end of the day for the reasons they need to go back, they have to go back.”
The Warriors then play the Roosters, Tigers, Manly and Penrith.
“It would be a disaster for them,” said former Warrior Greg Alexander in Fox League’s coverage.
“How do they recover from that? We’ve been talking about the two wingers who play a big part in winning the Warriors games. If they go home, gee that makes it tough.”
The Warriors are expected to hit the open market to find replacements with the trio currently mulling over a pay compromise which would see them take home 70 per cent of their wage.
They would have to stay in playing condition in Auckland and would be willing to return to Australia if called upon.
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