Trans-Tasman rivalry will be ramped up when the New Zealand Police and their Australian counterparts meet on rugby league’s frontline at Mount Smart Stadium on Friday night (5.35pm kick-off).
Showing off the strong arm of the law in another way, the Test is the first leg of a double header ahead of the Vodafone Warriors’ 24th-round NRL encounter with Penrith (8.00pm kick-off).
The New Zealand team is coached by Bryan Laumatia who went on to play at NRL level for Cronulla after being a reserve grader with the original Auckland Warriors.
The contest is the showpiece of a night which will have a strong police flavour.
Following on from the Vodafone Warriors’ involvement in the ‘drive drink free’ checkpoint promotion on August 11, the police will have a big presence around Mount Smart Stadium on Friday night. Features include:
- Police dog puppies on show.
- Armed offenders’ display.
- Police recruitment marquee open.
- Police patrol cars and bikes on show.
- Performance by New Zealand Police band.
- Police booze bus stationed in the stadium.
- Serious Crash Unit car on display.
- Halftime relay run by New Zealand Police and Auckland Transport with contestants wearing “booze goggles”. Should be a few laughs in this.
POLICE TEST
NEW ZEALAND POLICE v AUSTRALIA POLICE
5.35pm, Friday, August 24
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
NEW ZEALAND POLICE
1 JUAN BENADIE
2 IHAKA WATENE
3 GRAHAM VITE
4 TONGA AFU
5 BRONSON BERNARD
6 SIMON LUAFALEALO
7 TOM PARKER
8 TANIELA TUPOU
9 TERENCE PHILLIPS
10 CRAIG HESLOP
11 DWIGHT LEOFO
12 CAM PLANT
13 NATE SOLOMONA
Interchange:
14 ROSS TEKORONGA
15 LAFOIA AFOA
16 TINO APE
17 TAPU PAULI
18 SHAUN WINSTANLEY
COACH: BRYAN LAUMATIA
AUSTRALIA POLICE
1 MICHAEL O’KEEFE
2 ADAM FULLER
3 JEFF MILFORD
4 BLAKE ROBINSON
5 ANTON SABYOUN
6 BRENDAN WILLIAMS
7 AL HELDSINGER
8 ANDREW DUNKLEY
9 JARROD KNOX
10 ANDREW CHARD
11 MITCHELL WEST
12 CADE DE LEPERVANCHE
13 DANNY LAWRENCE
Interchange:
14 COREY WHITE
15 DYLAN SMITH
16 STEVE HOLLAND
17 TROY O’SULLIVAN
18 BRENT SHORTEN
COACH: NICK PATERSON
