Concerns over the controversial Kiwis vs England rugby league test in Denver have been exacerbated, with the NZ team grounded by an electrical storm on their return journey.
And that could have an immediate affect on an injury-hit Warriors line-up for Friday's home clash with Cronulla Sharks.
Rookie Kiwis winger Jamayne Isaako has posted video footage on social media of players forced to camp out at Denver International Airport, after the weather intervention delayed their flight out of the 'Mile High City'.
They will also miss their connecting flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.
"We just wanna go home," Isaako posted. "Not the [sic] have to sleep at the airport for the night."
The hold-up and the footage raise two key player welfare issues that had NRL clubs - including the Warriors - vehemently opposed to releasing players for the fixture, won 36-18 by the English.
Kiwis players will now be just a little later rejoining their clubs for this week's games and their recovery will be compromised by the uncomfortable conditions at the airport terminal.
Newshub understands the team have since booked into an airport hotel for an extra night.
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The delay could also have a massive affect on the Warriors selection against Cronulla Sharks, with coach Stephen Kearney already contemplating injuries to backs Solomone Kata and David Fusitu'a.
Kearney had originally intended resting the Warriors contingent - Ken Maumalo, Issac Luke and Peta Hiku - due to the quick turnaround. They may now be pressed into action regardless.
"The dilemma we have is I can't make any definite decisions until later on in the week," said Kearney, before news of the delay had surfaced.
"With the test match in Denver, I talked about those guys not playing, but the situation we find ourselves in, we might have to play them, depending on how David and Sol pull up over the next couple of days."
The Warriors refused to release two of their biggest stars - Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, along with Gerard Beale and Tohu Harris - for the test, while veteran forward Adam Blair was suspended out of the fixture.
Newshub.
