New Zealand Warriors players David Fusitu'a, Ken Maumalo & Agnatius Paasi are reportedly preparing to go back home to New Zealand after their 50-6 loss to the Storm.
Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith and coach Craig Bellamy visited the Warriors after the drubbing in in a show of appreciation for the club amid all the difficulty they've endured to keep the competition going.
TVNZ reporter Matt Manukia revealed that Fusitu'a, Maumalo and Paasi have told the club they leaving the team to head home.
https://twitter.com/MattManukiaTVNZ/status/1276622334007209984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/MattManukiaTVNZ/status/1276622725226696704?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwInterim coach Todd Payten has reportedly convinced them to stay for next week's clash against Cronulla, however, they will meet with NRL officals on Saturday as they hope to gain clarity around the issue.
The NRL is stuck in negotiations with the Australian Government about the move.
Fusitu'a flew over separate from the team due to personal reasons, forcing him to quarantine by himself.
Maumalo told media on May that players in the team were struggling with the idea of being away from their families, but that they were committed for staying the long haul.
"Knowing how long I'll going to be away from my family, that's probably been the most challenging part about coming over," he said.
"We've sort of mentally prepared for five months whereas before when we stuck in Newcastle, we didn't know how long we were going to be there,
"I think some of the boys wanted to come home, they didn't know what do it whilst we're here now and have changed our mindset that we are going to be here for five months."
The Warriors inclusion was a crucial part of the NRL puzzle for the competition's restart and the club has been forced to relocate to Tamworth and the Central Coast in order to for things to get off the ground.
Warriors caretaker Todd Payten conceded 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 the 44-point demolition to Melbourne.
Players and staff will meet with NRL officials on Saturday to address their concerns - the most pressing being 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.
-with AAP
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/warriors-leaving-is-a-possibility-payten/24d97c46-3fed-477c-a433-47b41263e087
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