Vodafone Warriors managing director Jim Doyle has today announced Taranaki is to host its first-ever NRL match after confirming the club is taking a regular season home game to New Plymouth’s Yarrow Stadium next year.
While the opposition and the date of the match won’t be known until the NRL draw is released this week, Doyle said agreement had been reached with the New Plymouth District Council to use Yarrow Stadium for the Vodafone Warriors’ one scheduled game outside Auckland.
“It’s hugely exciting for us to be taking an NRL game to New Plymouth for the first time, even more so for (Kiwi hooker) Issac Luke who gets the chance to play in his home province in his very first season with the Vodafone Warriors,” said Doyle.
“We’re presently committed to playing one NRL game each season outside Auckland and this is a perfect fit.
“We’ve enjoyed playing in Wellington the last three seasons but this time we’ve decided to try another centre and we’d really encourage fans from Taranaki and nearby regions to come out in force to support Issac and the team in New Plymouth.
“It will be a really big event for the city and the wider area as well as our members and fans from Auckland and further afield who will no doubt be there to follow the team.”
New Plymouth District mayor Andrew Judd said the Vodafone Warriors’ historic visit would create huge anticipation.
“We are thrilled to have secured a Vodafone Warriors NRL game at Yarrow Stadium giving Warriors and rugby league fans an opportunity to experience the NRL live in Taranaki,” he said.
“It’s exciting for local fans to see local lad Issac Luke play on home turf.
“We look forward to working with the Vodafone Warriors to make this one of the biggest events on the 2016 calendar.”
Hawera-born and raised Luke, who has joined the Vodafone Warriors from South Sydney, said playing for his new club in Taranaki would be a career highlight.
“I’ve played in big matches for the Kiwis and for the Rabbitohs but this will be right up there with the biggest moments of my career,” he said.
“I’m really excited to be back home in New Zealand playing with the Vodafone Warriors but it’s a huge buzz to know I’m now also going to have the chance to play in Taranaki, to have all my family and friends there. I can’t wait already.”
Vodafone Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden was equally thrilled about the club travelling to New Plymouth.
“We’re doing all we can to take the team to other centres around the country and it’s special when it’s a first, as it will be for New Plymouth hosting its first-ever NRL game,” he said.
“I know how much it will mean to Issac and that will just add to the excitement.”
The confirmation of the Yarrow Stadium match ensures the Vodafone Warriors will play at least three times outside Auckland in 2016 after recently confirming they will meet Gold Coast in an NRL trial in Whangarei on February 13 and then St George Illawarra in Nelson on February 20.
The New Plymouth fixture will be the 10th NRL home game the Vodafone Warriors have played away from Mount Smart Stadium.
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Honoured that the @nzwarriors have managed to get a game in my home #TARANAKI am so overwhelmed. Now… https://t.co/TYkBKPvLj4
— issac luke (@issacluke_14) November 23, 2015
