NRL players Glen Fisiiahi, Charlie Gubb and Siliva Havili will join Vodafone Warriors greats Jerome Ropati and Ruben Wiki for the club’s community programme in Rotorua this week.
The quintet will meet close to 5000 pupils in a blitz of 12 schools on Thursday and Friday ahead of the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL trial against the Penrith Panthers at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off).
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They’ll also make some other appearances as the Vodafone Warriors take the game to the people in support of the NRL’s 2015 Community Carnival, a month-long programme taking in an array of events in Australia and New Zealand involving all 16 NRL clubs.
Fisiiahi is continuing his recovery from a shoulder injury while Gubb and Havili have joined him in the casualty ward.
Havili is carrying a hamstring injury and Gubb is likely to be sidelined for three-four weeks after breaking a toe during his impressive display in Saturday night’s 12-22 trial defeat by the Gold Coast Titans in Toowomba.
Ropati, just appointed as an NRL Community ambassador, and former team-mate Wiki, the NRL team’s rehab coach, will be in the Geyser City from Wednesday night.
As well as visiting schools, the Vodafone Warriors will make an appearance at the Rotorua Night Market on Thursday, attend the Wai-Coa-Bay Nines on Friday night (which also run on Saturday) and support club sponsor Wendy’s by making an in-store appearance at its Rotorua site on Fairy Springs Road.
The Vodafone Warriors’ community activities in Rotorua will heighten awareness of what will be the club’s most important trial heading into the 2015 NRL season.
Head coach Andrew McFadden used an inexperienced side in Saturday night’s hit-out against the Gold Coast which had always been the plan.
For the Penrith trial, though, McFadden will field the strongest squad possible in what will be the Vodafone Warriors NRL build-up match on New Zealand soil.
As they did in Toowoomba on Saturday night, the Vodafone Warriors will wear the ‘Zion’ training kit for the Rotorua trial.
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VODAFONE WARRIORS IN ROTORUA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12
10.00am
Ngongotaha Primary School, School Road, Ngongotaha
Western Heights School, Clayton Road, Rotorua
11.00am
Kaitaio Middle School, Bell Road, Western Heights, Rotorua
Rotorua Primary School, 1249 Arawa Street, Rotorua
2.00pm
Selwyn School, Old Quarry Road, Selwyn Heights, Rotorua
St Mary’s Primary School, 37 Carnot Street, Glenholme, Rotorua
6.00pm
Rotorua Night Market, Tutanekai Street (between Haupapa and Pukuatua Streets), Rotorua
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13
10.00am
Westbrook Primary School, 362 Malfroy Road, Rotorua
Whangamarino Primary School, State Highway 33, Okere Falls, Rotorua
11.00am
Rotorua Girls’ High School, 251 Old Taupo Road, Hillcrest, Rotorua
Rotorua Lakes High School, Porikapa Road, Owhata, Rotorua
2.00pm
Rotorua Intermediate School, Old Quarry Road, Selwyn Heights, Rotorua
Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata, 37 Carnot Street, Glenholme Street, Glenhome, Rotorua
5.30pm
Wai-Coa-Bay Nines Tournament (Have a Go Zone), Rotorua International Stadium
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14
10.30am
Wai-Coa-Bay Nines Tournament (Have a Go Zone), Rotorua International Stadium
12.00pm
Wendy’s, 60 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua
2.00pm
Meet At Risk Youth Group, Rotorua International Stadium
3.00pm
NRL Trial | Vodafone Warriors v Penrith Panthers
