It was their home-away-from-home in isolation for more than two weeks when the competition resumed after the COVID-19 shutdown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But if the Warriors think they will enjoy all the local support on Saturday when they return to Tamworth for the first time since their quarantine experience to take on the Knights, they may be in for a surprise.
Read also:
The Knights are also claiming an emotional attachment to the town after spending a week there in camp just prior to Christmas, where they witnessed first hand the hardship caused by the drought and bushfires.
It was during that experience, according to coach Adam O'Brien, that the foundations were laid and the benchmarks set for what the club is striving to stand for.
"We learned a lot about ourselves that week,"O'Brien said. "Just seeing first hand the stresses and hardships the locals were going through and being able to lend a hand to the farmers who were doing it tough.
"In and around some pretty intense training sessions and some goal-setting, there was some good interaction with the people up there and I think we really came together as a group and got our best work done of the pre-season out there at Tamworth.
"When you're talking about toughness and resilience, that's what we all saw in the people there.
"The Warriors obviously have an attachment to the place as well but I can tell you our guys are all really looking forward to going back there and playing well in front of all the fans who come along."
Toohey's News: Listen to Barry Toohey's new podcast in your Podcast app
Knights centre Gehamat Shibasaki still has a vivid memory of the week.
"It was hot, it was smoky from the fires. We just learned up there about being comfortable with being uncomfortable," he said.
"That was sort of the main theme for that trip. Tamworth really supported us and loved having us there and I can't wait to go back there to thank them for having us."
As a show of respect for the town, the Warriors have been running out with the Tamworth postcode [2340] embroidered on their jerseys.
Coach Todd Payten said his side's return is about repaying the town for its hospitality.
"We're all really excited about going back to Tamworth," he said.
"It's our chance to repay everyone back in Tamworth with a good performance. It's going to feel like a comfortable place for us because of the time we spent there.
"It'll bring back some decent memories. We were very well looked after there. The hospitality was great from everyone.
"Hopefully we can see some familiar faces, put on a strong performance and do everyone proud, not just back home but in Tamworth too."
It will be a hit-and-run mission for both sides with the Knights and the Warriors flying out of Newcastle Airport in separate chartered flights on the day.
"The travel is going to be a bit of a challenge but once we get there, we're going to feel comfortable in the surroundings," Payten said.
