New Zealand Warriors caretaker coach Todd Payten has warned that his players may want to return home after the shock axing of coach Stephen Kearney.
According to Payten, the dismissal of the Kiwi Test legend has stirred drama among an already disgruntled playing group given their isolation in Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
"Some may [want to return home]," Payten said on Sunday. "Yesterday it was an emotionally-charged day.
"Stephen's very well respected and loved by the players. I don't know how they feel from an anger situation. It hit them pretty hard in the face.
"I really feel for Steve. I know the playing group are rattled and are still processing at the moment.
"It was eerie, it's been a difficult and strange 24 hours. It's almost like we've had a death in the family. It's a really strange atmosphere."
The news came after former Warriors forward Sione Faumuina slammed the club and owner Mark Robinson for the decision, who CEO Cameron George confirmed had a direct hand in Kearney's exit.
"It's the most selfish, lacks-empathy decision I've ever seen within any franchise in the NRL," Faumuina said. "If I was playing and that happened ... I'd want to come home now. I'd be like, 'F this, send me home'."
The decision to part ways with the coach came as a surprise given the Warriors 2-2 record since the resumption and the fact that Kearney and his players are performing under extremely trying circumstances, away from their homes and families.
However, George confirmed that the club had made the decision based on "the last six to eight months" of performances, with the side's 40-12 loss to South Sydney on Saturday forcing the club's hand.
"Going into this year, obviously we understood we needed to see improvement. Then obviously we take into account what's happened with the COVID-19 and the unfortunate situation our team are in at the present," George told The Sunday Footy Show.
"But from the owner's perspective, we looked at the core principles of what we do and we make decisions as to what's best for our future, what's best for our club moving forward."
George went on to claim that the decision to sack Kearney was in the interest of stability, despite the coach having two years remaining on his contract. The move will reportedly cost the Warriors a $2 million payout.
"I've said for a long time, the lack of stability [is the club's biggest problem]. It flies in the face of changing a coach at this point in time, but it does enable us to get out in the market and get sorted for next year," George said.
"Since 1 May 2018, I've had three different owners. And when you've got three different owners coming into your club, at various times they're all going to have different views on people, different visions and so on."