Vital community services will be honoured when the Vodafone Warriors host the Melbourne Storm in Sunday’s crucial 18th-round NRL clash at Mount Smart Stadium (match day sponsor: Suzuki; game day theme: #EverydayHeroes).
The New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Fire Service, St John New Zealand and Surf Lifesaving New Zealand will have a strong presence on a game day programme which will also feature a demonstration involving police dogs during the halftime break in the NRL match.
As well as the services being acknowledged, another highlight will be a halftime competition giving Vodafone Warriors members and fans the chance to win an all-new Suzuki Grand Vitara put up by major sponsor Suzuki.
With gates opening at 11.30am, the football action kicks off with the second-placed Vodafone Warriors taking on the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup (11.45am) followed by the NYC match between the fifth-placed Vodafone Junior Warriors and the Storm (1.45pm) and the NRL game kicking off at 4.00pm.
The Michael Moore Trophy, held by Melbourne, will be at stake with both teams boosted by the anticipated return of their Origin players; the Vodafone Warriors are set to welcome back Ryan Hoffman and Jacob Lillyman after the 2015 series decider between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
BUY TICKETS NOW | VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Following the action at Mount Smart Stadium there will be a Meet the Team function at the Atrium Sports Bar at SKYCITY. All fans are invited to attend the event starting at 7.00pm where they will be able to mingle with the Vodafone Warriors; at the event awards will be handed out to the players’ player of the day winners since the last Meet the Team event on May 31.
Coinciding with the #EverydayHeroes theme, Vodafone Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei met up with and interviewed former Vodafone Warrior-turned-policeman Tony Tatupu to talk about the career move he made after his playing days. Vatuvei’s ambition is to follow Tatupu into the police when he retires.
WATCH | #EVERYDAYHEROES | MANU VATUVEI TALKS TO TONY TATUPU
The #EverydayHeroes focus follows the #OnesieParty theme for the last home game against the Canberra Raiders on June 27 and the #ZombieNight promotion when the Sydney Roosters visited Mount Smart Stadium on June 13.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Sunday, July 12
Mount Smart Stadium
11.30am | Gates open
11.40am | Vodafone Warriors v Illawarra (New South Wales Cup)
1.40pm | Vodafone Junior Warriors v Melbourne Storm (NYC)
4.00pm | Vodafone Warriors v Melbourne Storm (NRL)
