With the โ€˜hit and giggle' trail matches and the arduous pre-season training regimes now behind each team, fans, coaches, and players alike have set their sights on the real deal โ€“ Round 1.

For some clubs, the pre-season period could not have panned out better, whilst the unlucky remainder will be counting the cost of their campaigns.

Although there were a myriad of positives to be taken from the summer months, all teams will be striving to improve on their trail match form and learn from the lessons dealt out across them.

With the first spin of the Steeden within touching distance, we raise the big question that face each of the NRL's 16 clubs.

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New Zealand Warriors

How weary are the wandering Warriors already?

Admit it.

Even the toughest of you reading this have been struck down by pangs of homesickness from time to time.

After spending the entirety of 2020 away from home and playing at 11 different venues across the altered season, the Kiwi franchise has again been asked to hit the road for the good of the competition.

A glance at the fixture list has the Warriors visiting three different stadiums before potentially being granted the chance to return home to Auckland in early April.

However, with the precarious state of both the game and international security, these plans could be torn up at any minute.

To truly highlight the length of their excursion, the Warriors haven't played at their Mount Smart home since August 30, 2019 โ€“ a 30-10 loss to South Sydney.

The club won plaudits and fans everywhere for their selflessness last season, but with a young side and a new coach, how long will the toys stay in the cot if their time away from Aotearoa is extended?

Perhaps the club's request for the entirety of the 2022 season to be spent within the shaky isles would be a just reward for their continued sacrifice.

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