The Warriors are back on the paddock as pre-season begins at their new base of operations in Redcliffe.
The Warriors have spent the past two seasons away from New Zealand and have given the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that the 2020 and 2021 seasons were able to continue.
Head coach Nathan Brown told 1170 SEN that players and staff are beginning to settle into everyday life Redcliffe.
“Two years in a row of coaching staff and players all living together and seeing each other every day; I’m not sure that’s conducive to the best sporting environment,” Brown said.
“The players have sourced out their own places to live and they’re not living in a block of apartments together.
“Players having their own lives away from footy will somewhat help us too.”
In terms of footy operations, Brown feels the Warriors are returning to normality with facilities they were not afforded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This time last year, we were training in two separate countries,” he said.
“Being in one location is great. We’ve got a terrific set up. We’ve got coaches offices … we didn’t have that luxury last year.”
The start of pre-season has given Warriors recruits a chance to impress the coaching staff before Round 1 gets underway. Former Gold Coast playmaker Ash Taylor is on a train and trial deal with the club and has already caught the eye of Brown.
“He’s been really positive, and his training has been really good,” Brown said of Taylor.
“If he can be as consistent as what he has shown so far, we are quite positive that Ash can have a really good impact on our footy club.
“The pressure on him at our club is going to be far less than what he felt (at the Gold Coast).”
The Warriors have one of the youngest squads in the competition and Brown has given his side a message ahead of the 2022 season.
“We need them all to train consistently well for a long period of time,” the Warriors coach said.
“That’s where our growth is going to come from.”