For just the second time in their history the One New Zealand Warriors are Hawke’s Bay-bound with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kurt Capewell leading the way for an action-packed four days in Napier.
Winger Tuivasa-Sheck and second rower Capewell were today confirmed as starters ahead of the full squad being named for Saturday’s Pre-season Challenge clash against Manly Warringah at McLean Park (3.40pm kick-off).
Tuivasa-Sheck, the club’s 2025 player of the year, and reigning Queensland State of Origin winner Capewell count 411 NRL appearances between them with Tuivasa-Sheck set for his 250th career game this year and Capewell his 200th.
The pair will arrive in Napier with the rest of the squad on Friday morning ahead of the Warriors’ captain’s run at McLean Park at 2.00pm – which will be open to the public – followed by a signing session. Gates will open at 1.30pm.
The open training session is just one of a number of features during the club’s visit.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 2 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sea Eagles
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
Warriors Community Foundation
An advance party from the Warriors Community Foundation is taking its Sky Community Rugby League Roadshow to Napier.
In conjunction with Sport Hawke’s Bay and the Rugby League Hawke’s Bay, the foundation will run a have-a-go session at Whitmore Park in Marewa from 1.30pm-2.30pm on Thursday.
The session is designed for participants of varying abilities, including those with intellectual and physical disabilities, delivered in a safe, supportive and adaptable environment.
It will be followed by a coaching clinic at Whitmore Park from 5.30pm-7.30pm (register HERE). Open to all community coaches, it will be run in combination with Rugby League Hawke’s Bay.
On Friday there’ll be two have-a-go sessions at Whitmore Park with 200 students attending each one from a total of 24 schools from around the Hawke’s Bay region. The first session for schools from the Heretaunga and Central Hawke’s Bay will run from 9.00am-10.30am. The second session for Napier and Wairoa schools runs from 10.30am-12.00pm.
The community team will then be involved at the captain’s run from 2.00pm followed by game day activations on Saturday.
Pop-up Warriors Team Store
Coinciding with the visit to Napier, a mobile pop-up Warriors Team Store will be in operation.
It will be on site from 12.00pm-6.00pm at Harvey Norman Napier (60 Wellesley Rd) on both Wednesday and Thursday while on Friday it will be set up at McLean Park for the Warriors’ captain’s run.
On game day Team Stores will be set up in the food court behind the Harris Stand and behind the Graeme Lowe Stand.
NRL greats gather
One New Zealand Warriors great and Hawke’s Bay’s favourite son Tohu Harris will join Manly Warringah legends Cliff Lyons, Steve Menzies and Kieran Foran at a speaking event at McLean Park from 5.30pm-8.00pm on Friday.
Harris was involved in the only two NRL games played in Napier, turning out for the Melbourne Storm against St George Illawarra in 2015 and captaining the Warriors against the Brisbane Broncos in 2023.
Since retiring early last year Harris has returned home to Hawke’s Bay with his family where he and his wife Nat have become agents with Tremain Real Estate.
Joining the ex-rugby league players on the bill will be another Hawke’s Bay resident, Silver Ferns netball legend Irene van Dyk.
