A celebration of grassroots rugby league, Auckland's SAS Fox Memorial grand final and an opportunity to meet the NRLW squad will be key game day features at Mount Smart Stadium on Friday night.
After a tough fortnight on the road, the Vodafone Warriors are back home for their last home game of the season facing the South Sydney Rabbitohs (8.00pm kick-off).
Fans are encouraged to get down to the venue early to experience everything game day at a Vodafone Warriors game has to offer.
For starters, you won’t want to miss the SAS Fox Memorial grand final with the Mount Albert Lions taking on the Howick Hornets in the decider. It kicks off at 5:30pm and is sure to be a cracker.
Hosting Auckland Rugby League’s annual showpiece event is a key feature of a game day programme in which grassroots rugby league will take centre stage.
At halftime of the NRL game, 21 junior footy players from clubs around Auckland will be invited onto the field and honoured with the annual best and fairest celebrations. One lucky junior will also be given a giant TV courtesy of match day sponsor TCL.
Each year clubs are asked to nominate one child from the under-5s grade through to under-16s who plays the game hard and fair. Winners of this year’s awards will be in some illustrious company with Point Chevalier’s Bunty Afoa having won the award not once but twice as a junior footballer.
After the region's best and brightest are honoured, it’s time for the grand final of the Mitre 10 Club Relay. After months of competition at halftime of every home game, we're down to four finalists.
Will it be the Pakuranga Jaguars, the Manukau Magpies, the Papatoetoe Panthers or the Hibiscus Coast Raiders who are ultimately crowned the quickest club in Auckland?
With a $5000 gift card from Mitre 10 up for grabs, expect these future Roger Tuivasa-Shecks to give it their all on the hallowed turf at Mount Smart Stadium.
Special thanks to club sponsor Canterbury of New Zealand for donating 500 tickets to Auckland clubs to attend Friday’s grassroots celebrations.
While the NRL campaign is winding down, the season is just starting for the club's NRLW team.
So, get down to the Chemist Warehouse Community Corner for your chance to meet all of our NRLW stars on Friday night. We’ve got free posters and the players will be there from 6.45pm.
Before the NRL team runs out for the big game, we’ll introduce the NRLW players to the crowd before they form a guard of honour for their male counterparts.
Despite it being the last home game of the year, we are still expecting a big crowd and those in attendance will be rewarded with hot chips, pies and hot dogs at “1990s prices” of just $3.50 each (available from stadium-owned catering outlets only).
It’s also Daffodil Day so with that spare change you’ll save on those key food items, please give generously and get yourself a daffodil at the gate.
Fans can also expect lots of other great night entertainment on Friday night.
Head along and help us celebrate grassroots rugby league’s finest and get behind Roger and the boys as they look to finish the season on a high.
Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a safe journey home, the Vodafone Warriors’ official ride-share partner Ola has once again set up a special coupon that will give fans $20 off their first ride. To access the discount, fans should enter the code “WARRIORS”.
Check out their official ride share zone just inside the entrance way to the O’Rorke Rd car park.
TIMINGS
5.15pm | Gates open
5.30pm | SAS Fox Memorial Grand Final | Mt Albert v Howick
8.00pm | Vodafone Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs
TRANSPORT
Free trains to and from Mount Smart Stadium are available with your ticket or membership card. And for Friday’s game against the Rabbitohs, fans will also get free travel on Northern Express buses from the North Shore. For all the details, please CLICK HERE.
