Warriors player flies home after pregnant wife's accident

Forward Leivaha Pulu will reportedly be the first Warriors player to return home from their NRL vigil in Australia after his pregnant wife was involved in a car accident.

TVNZ reported Pulu had left their team base in Terrigal, NSW, and would fly to Auckland to be with his wife, who is not believed to have been injured in the incident.

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The club has yet to confirm Pulu's departure but the report said the NRL had agreed they would be granted access to another loan player to replace the second-rower, who has yet to play a game this season.

It may not have been a hard decision for 30-year-old former Gold Coast Titan Pulu, who was one of four players named by Warriors chief executive Cameron George as weighing up returning to Auckland for personal reasons.

The club has given the NRL a deadline of July 19 to get exemptions for players' Auckland-based families to cross the Tasman, having become increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress.

Wingers Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a and prop Agnatius Paasi have also voiced a desire to return home after the round 10 game against Cronulla if the impasse remains.

The club has drawn up a list of loan prospects to replace any departed players so are set to move quickly to replace former Tongan international Pulu, who has played 58 first grade games.

In a teleconference on Saturday, NRL bosses Peter V'Landys and Andrew Abdo told the players the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne hadn't helped the club's cause in getting trans-Tasman travel clearance.

While V'Landys vowed to pursue new means of getting the families across the Tasman, the players decided it was time to set a deadline.

"There was a lot of talking. In the end we basically told them that they've got 23 days at that moment to get it sorted," Payten said on Wednesday.

Warriors players doing it tough away from families

"If they didn't get any clarity or give our lads a definite answer, they will be able to go home the day after the Sharks game."

The Warriors' family applications would be among thousands assessed by government authorities, leaving Peyton reluctant to blame V'Landys.

"He said everything happening in Victoria is not helping our situation," Peyton said.

"He has reapplied and is taking it higher up the food chain so to speak. He also mentioned a possible bubble opening up between Queensland and Auckland.

"From our end, the frustration was more around there had been plenty of talk but no real resolution."

The Warriors have already called on two front row loan reinforcements this year because of injuries, adding to many disruptions, including the surprise sacking of coach Stephen Kearney.