GWM Game Day Guide: Huge tripleheader footy feast

Matariki celebrations will feature on a huge tripleheader game day when the One New Zealand Warriors host the Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium for the first time since 2019 on Saturday (match day sponsor: One New Zealand).

Just the second Go Media Stadium game day in more than two months will have something for everyone.

A veritable football feast is anchored by the eagerly awaited NRL encounter between the third-placed Warriors and the ninth-placed Panthers who have appeared in every grand final since 2020 winning the last four.

The main event (5.00pm kick-off) is preceded by the two clubs clashing in the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) competition (12.50pm kick-off) followed by the table-topping Warriors taking on Penrith in the New South Wales Cup (2.40pm kick-off).

With game day falling in the middle of Matariki weekend, there’ll be special recognition of the annual celebration.

Inside the last half hour before kick-off for the NRL contest, fans at the stadium can look forward to ‘Waiata Singalongs’, essentially a mass karaoke songfest featuring traditional waiata led by Stacey Morrison, Dame Hinewehi Mohi, Matai Smith and One New Zealand Warriors NRLW players.