A rugby league tripleheader, the NRL’s hottest team entrance and a halftime lights and fireworks show feature on the bill for the One New Zealand Warriors’ sold-out final regular season match of the season at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Friday night.
Dominating the programme is the round 26 clash against St George Illawarra (8.00pm kick-off) as the One New Zealand Warriors seek a seventh consecutive win which will seal a top four spot for the finals.
It doesn’t stop there, though, with so much more on offer after gates open at 3.45pm.
Making guest appearances at Go Media Stadium are the New Zealand Police and New Zealand Universities men’s and women’s rugby league teams.
The women go to battle first at 4.00pm with the men kicking off at 5.30pm.
The NRL teams warm up from about 7.35pm then just before 8.00pm the lights go out as the One New Zealand Warriors make what has become the NRL’s most spectacular entrance.
Sitting third on 36 points, the Warriors are chasing a 16th win – and their 11th in their last 13 starts – facing a Dragons side lying 16th on the ladder.
In their eight home games in Auckland to date, the One New Zealand Warriors have attracted a total attendance of 176,219 (an average crowd of 22,027 a game) with the best 24,112 for last Friday night’s 29-22 win over the Sea Eagles.
The One New Zealand Warriors will be eyeing a seventh straight win following victories over Parramatta (46-10), Cronulla Sutherland (44-12), Canberra (21-20), Gold Coast (28-18), the Wests Tigers (30-22) and Manly Warringah (29-22). They have won 10 of their last 12 matches since their Magic Round loss to Penrith in early May.
