Vodafone Warriors players and staff supported New Zealand Sign Language Week by hosting a group from Deaf Aotearoa at Mount Smart Stadium yesterday, culminating in a game of silent touch.
The guests were earlier given a tour of the club's facilities and also watched the NRL squad's training session.
Following training the Northern Marlins Deaf team had a game of silent touch against some Vodafone Warriors NRL squad members and staff. Ruben Wiki refereed the match and he was also mute.
Among the players involved were Karl Lawton (who made his NRL club debut last week), Matiu Love-Henry, Chris Satae, King Vuniyayawa, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, James Bell, Junior Pauga, Ligi Sao and Pat Sipley.
Last week two members of the deaf community were at the club to teach captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Nicoll-Klokstad sign language. Footage of Tuivasa-Sheck and Nicoll-Klokstad doing sign language will be used on the big screen when the Vodafone Warriors play the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Sign Language Week.