NRL 2021: Mt Smart return 'a bonus' for Australian based Warriors, says Tohu Harris

Despite the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble, NZ Warriors aren't necessarily planning their Mt Smart homecoming just yet, says forward Tohu Harris.

The Kiwi side haven't played at Mt Smart Stadium since 2019, and have relocated to Australia for both the 2020 and 2021 seasons in order to compete in the NRL during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though Friday saw confirmation of both NZ Breakers and Wellington Phoenix bringing home games back to New Zealand before the end of their respective seasons, the Warriors will have to carry on waiting.

At present, July 2 against St George-Illawarra Dragons has been scheduled for the Warriors to return to Mt Smart. 

But Harris concedes that any decision over an earlier return to New Zealand is ultimately out of the Warriors' hands.

"To be honest, we're waiting to hear from the NRL on what they believe is best for the competition," Harris says.

"That's something that we can't control.

"We've sort of just got to get on with our job. As players, our job's just to get out there, train, play and make sure we're performing.

"Any game that gets taken back to Mt Smart will be a bonus for us. But then again, we've got no control over that, so we're just ticking along."

If the Warriors do return home to play at Mt Smart on July 2, then a total of 672 days would have passed in between the Kiwi side's last run out at home - a 31-10 defeat to South Sydney Rabbitohs.

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