Game day will be packed with attractions – including the annual draw for the Suzuki Swift Road Warrior – when the Vodafone Warriors close their 22nd season in the competition with the traditional Old Boys’ Day at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday.
Gates open at 1.30pm for a football programme featuring another tripleheader starting with the Intrust Super Premiership week one finals clash between the Vodafone Warriors and Penrith (1.35pm kick-off) followed by the home side facing Parramatta in the NYC fixture (3.45pm kick-off) and NRL encounter between the Vodafone Warriors and the Eels (6.00pm kick-off).
With former players thick on the ground the NRL contest will be especially poignant for standoff Thomas Leuluai playing his 85th and last match for the club before joining the old boys’ ranks himself. Apart from those he’ll be playing alongside, watching on will be a number of now retired players who have been Leuluai’s team-mates during his career for both club and country.
Old boys will be recognised in the lead-up to the NRL match with club great and former captain Steve Price (Vodafone Warrior #121) among them to fill the role as celebrity drummer in the countdown ritual to the battle between the Vodafone Warriors and Parramatta.
Apart from giving away the Suzuki Swift Road Warrior for the fifth consecutive year, there will be a full range of other game day features.
ROUND #26 GAME DAY
Match: Vodafone Warriors v Parramatta Eels
Date: Sunday, September 4, 2016
Venue: Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Game Day Hashtag: #NRLWarriorsEels
KEY TIMINGS
Gates Open: 1.30pm.
ISP Kick-off: 1.35pm | Vodafone Warriors v Penrith
NYC Kick-off: 3.45pm | Vodafone Junior Warriors v Parramatta Eels
NRL Kick-off: 6.10pm | Vodafone Warriors v Parramatta Eels
DETAILS
WIN A SUZUKI SWIFT ROAD WARRIOR: At halftime in the NRL match, one lucky person will win the Suzuki Swift Road Warrior. All season long Vodafone Warriors members and fans have entered the draw to win the car. Now 10 finalists have been drawn from the thousands of registrations with voting open to find the top four who will face off in the ‘grand final’ on Sunday.
DEPARTING PLAYERS FAREWELL: After the NRL match, the Vodafone Warriors will remain on the field for longer than usual. Soon after fulltime captain Ryan Hoffman will acknowledge departing players including Thomas Leuluai and Ali Lauitiiti.
MEMBERS' MARCH AND 'FAMILY' PHOTO: Two special season-ending oppotunities are available to all Vodafone Warriors members. There will be a members' march around the ground straight after the NYC match (about 5.15pm) while all members can also be involved in a club 'family' photo taken with the club's players and staff in front of the East Stand soon after the end of the NRL match.
BOUNDARY ROAD ‘MAKING THEIR MT SMART DEBUT’ OFFER: For the first time, a craft beer offer is being provided on game day with a choice of either Boundary Road’s ‘Bouncing Czech’ pilsener lager or Boundary Road's ‘Flying Fortress’ New Zealand pale ale for $9.00 a bottle.
WESTIE PIES AND KIDS’ COMBO FOOD OFFER: Westie Pies will be available at the special price of just $2.00 while the $6.00 Kids’ Combo will also be on offer (either three mini dogs and chips or three chicken nuggets and chips).
RAY WHITE COIN TOSS: The Ray White Coin Toss will take place straight after the end of the NYC curtain-raiser. A Vodafone Warriors member will toss the coin with Vodafone Warriors captain Ryan Hoffman and his Parramatta counterpart Tim Mannah in attendance. The winning member has a photo taken with the captains.
HARVEY NORMAN COMMUNITY FUN ZONE: Get your photo taken in the Harvey Norman Community Fun Zone with Vodafone Warriors players there between 5.00pm-6.00pm. There will also be face painting, the Canterbury tackle bag, the passing wall and a balloon artist.
MERCHANDISE SPECIAL: Game day special - 30-50 per cent discount on selected Canterbury of New Zealand products at Stadium Stores. Vodafone Warriors alternate training jersey on sale for just $50.
