GAME DAY | Savage on show

Author: Richard Becht
Timestamp: Wed 18 Mar 2015, 10:17 PM

Kiwi hip hop pioneer Savage is the headline act on the Vodafone Warriors’ game day entertainment programme for the club’s first home game of the 2015 NRL season against Parramatta at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday (5.00pm kick-off).

Supported by the Fresh Movement dance crew, Savage will pump out his hit single ‘Freaks’ in the halftime show as the Vodafone Warriors begin the home phase of their 20^th anniversary NRL campaign with the first of back-to-back games at their fortress.

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They’ll be back at Mount Smart Stadium to take on original 1995 opponent Brisbane on March 29 (2.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: Vodafone).

Former NRL player turned television personality Beau Ryan was MC for the Vodafone Warriors’ launch of their home programme at the SKYCITY Grand Hotel on Wednesday night, a cocktail function attended by the full Vodafone Warriors NRL squad, head coach Andrew McFadden and football staff, club management and staff plus their partners, sponsors and media.

The guests heard from managing director Jim Doyle while Ryan interviewed McFadden, captain Simon Mannering, new recruit Ryan Hoffman and halfback Shaun Johnson along with centres Konrad Hurrell and Solomone Kata.

On Saturday, Mannering will lead the Vodafone Warriors for the 115^th time in his 215-game career, his team taking on familiar early-season rival Parramatta on the back of a hard-fought 18-6 victory over the Raiders in Canberra last Sunday.

While the Eels have lost impressive wing Semi Radradra to injury, they come to Auckland boasting ex-Manly back rower Anthony Watmough and the influential Chris Sandow in a week when the club has been buoyed by Kiwi Kieran Foran’s signing for next season.

The match is part of the PlayNRL Round, which sets out to encourage children and families to participate in rugby league. There will be a number of activities on Saturday promoting the cause including the traditional mini mod games involving four teams representing the junior clubs of some current Vodafone Warriors players (Hibiscus Coast, Mangere East, Otahuhu and Northcote).

The players from these mini mod teams will help to form a guard of honour for the Vodafone Warriors as they run onto the field from the East Stand tunnel.