AN NRL home game clash for the NZ Warriors is on the cards for Tamworth.
The Warriors could return to their pre-season quarantine HQ at Scully Park as soon as August to challenge the Newcastle Knights.
It's early days, but Wests Entertainment Group chief executive Rod Laing received a call from the NRL on Friday about whether Tamworth would be keen to host.
"I was offered Warriors versus Newcastle Knights for late August or the game against Parramatta Eels in early September," he said.
"With the way we are heading it's thought we could be back to full capacity in stadiums with crowds.
"It will be really exciting if that comes off."
It would take a significant effort to manage the game in-line with COVID-19 restrictions but a staff holiday black-out has been placed on the game period at Scully Park.
A spokesman confirmed the NRL is exploring the possibility of the Warriors playing a match in Tamworth this season.
"The NRL and the Warriors are very thankful to the Tamworth community for accommodating the Warriors during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
It comes as Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders was named chair of the state government's NRL Regional Taskforce on Wednesday, that has been developed to bring more games to regional NSW.
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Mr Saunders has met with Australian Rugby League chair Peter V'Landys to push for six to eight games to be played in the bush each season.
"The deputy premier worked very closely with the NRL to ensure the return of the competition and we were hoping to see a couple of regional games this year, but with the current health orders it will be extremely difficult to achieve that," Mr Saunders said.
The Leader contacted Warriors chief executive Cameron George but did not receive a response before this article went to press.
