A triple treat including the NRLW side’s much-awaited homecoming sets Sunday’s game day apart as one of the biggest in the One New Zealand Warriors’ history.
The sold-out sign went up two weeks ago for what will be a football banquet at Go Media Stadium, one featuring three courses starting with the pacesetting New South Wales Cup side at 11.40am, the reinstated NRLW team at 1.50pm and the top four-placed NRL side in the main course at 4.00pm.
There haven’t been many days to match the fare on offer.
With Maxigesic on board as match day partner, it’s a unique programme when the club’s NRL and NRLW sides will play on the same bill at Go Media Stadium for the first time, the women having only their second game at home since the competition started in 2018; the first was a stand-alone match against the Dragons in 2019 – but now the Warriors take it to a whole new level.
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 19 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
14th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Making their return to the NRLW after a five-year absence last week, they take on first-round winner Parramatta on an emotion charged day in front of an army of their families and friends. Pride won’t begin to capture the feelings in the stands and on the field.
If last Sunday was momentous running out against the Roosters, the entrance this time will be on a grander scale still. As head coach Ron Griffiths has impressed on the players it will be another first for them, one etched in history.
Match: Warriors v Eels
Round 2 -
home Team
Warriors
8th Position
away Team
Eels
9th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
And yet it’s just one part of what will be on offer because, on either side of the NRLW match, the Warriors will have the best of their first-grade and emerging talent on show.
First-up the New South Wales Cup team will face the Western Suburbs Magpies seeking to secure an astonishing 12th straight win in a season in which they’ve lost just once in 16 starts to sit on 34 points, five clear of the second-placed team.
It should be the best motivation for all fans to arrive early on Sunday to ensure they’re at the ground for kick-off to support a team performing such wonderful deeds and showcasing the depth of talent the club now has at its disposal.
Supporters should be back in their seats again well before 1.50pm to give the NRLW players the kind of rapturous welcome home they so richly deserve in their mission to give rugby league in New Zealand a pathway to the future for all girls and women aspiring to play the game at the highest level.
Match: Warriors v Magpies
Round 19 -
home Team
Warriors
1st Position
away Team
Magpies
9th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
It’s a chance to see captain Apii Nicholls marshaling a diverse group of players including those who have switched from rugby union to take up the rugby league challenge led by Black Ferns Michaela Brake, Shakira Baker, Tysha Ikenasio and Patricia Maliepo.
Then after a roam around the precinct it will be time for everyone to be seated well before 4.00pm for the pre-game build-up for the One New Zealand Warriors’ critical round 19 match against the Wests Tigers as captain James Fisher-Harris and his players seek to solidify the club's place in the top four.
Around the football there’ll be so much else going on between games and at halftime breaks as the One New Zealand Warriors put together an unrivalled full game day experience.
GWM Game Day Guide | Round 19
Match day partner: Maxigesic
11.35am | Gates open
11.40am | New South Wales Cup: One New Zealand Warriors v Western Suburbs Magpies
1.20pm | Persil Junior Football
1.50pm | NRLW: One New Zealand Warriors v Parramatta Eels
3.00pm | NRL coin toss
3.25pm | NRL warm-ups
4.00pm | NRL: One New Zealand Warriors v Wests Tigers
4.40pm | Half time entertainment presented by Maxigesic
5.45 pm | Full time