Tight vote for Vodafone Warriors-Bulldogs classic match

Author: Richard Becht & Photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 8 May 2020, 07:46 PM

Voting was the tightest it has been with little separating all three contenders for the Vodafone Warriors’ classic match against the Bulldogs on Game Day Saturday at 3.00pm tomorrow (May 9) on Sky Sport’s home of rugby league (Sky Sport 4, channel 54).

In contention for the spot this week were three contests with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, who the Vodafone Warriors were scheduled to meet tonight (Friday, May 8) until the 2020 season was suspended.

In the end the 36-16 win at Mount Smart Stadium finished with 38 per cent, only just ahead of the 22-14 victory in Auckland in 2002 which polled 35 per cent. The 30-24 win in Sydney was third with 26 per cent of the vote.

So, put on your game face in your level three lockdown (still) atmosphere at home to watch Game Day Saturday on Sky Sport 4 (channel 54) for full coverage of the impressive 2008 performance from 3.00pm tomorrow.

Each week the Vodafone Warriors and Sky Sport select three games from the archives featuring the Vodafone Warriors against the team they were scheduled to meet in the original draw before the 2020 season was suspended.
Next week we’ll be focusing on our would-be 10th-round opponents the Gold Coast Titans, providing a selection of three encounters from the files for you, the fans, to vote on for Game Day Saturday on May 16.

Vodafone Warriors Game Day Saturday

3.00pm, Saturday, May 09, 2020

SS4, Channel 54

April 13, 2008

Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland

One of the Vodafone Warriors' best seasons opened indifferently with two wins and two losses – including a shocking 6-52 loss to Manly - ahead of their fifth-round encounter with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Lining up for Bulldogs was the young superstar Sonny Bill Williams while the Vodafone Warriors had a Sonny of their own on the bench – the hot prospect Sonny Fai.

It was the home side’s Sonny who excelled on the day, leaving SBW on the ground as he sped away to score one of the Vodafone Warriors’ six tries.

Vodafone Warriors 36 (Manu Vatuvei 2, Patrick Ah Van, Sonny Fai, Lance Hohaia, Ruben Wiki tries; Michael Witt 6 conversions).

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 (Heka Nanai, Luke Patten, Ben Roberts tries; Hazem El Masri 2 conversions).

Halftime: 12-10 Bulldogs.

Crowd: 15,912.

Vodafone Warriors | Lance Hohaia; Patrick Ah Van, Brent Tate, Ryan Shortland, Manu Vatuvei; Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli; Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki (c); Simon Mannering, Logan Swann; Micheal Luck (c). Interchange: Ian Henderson, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sonny Fai.

Canterbury-Bankstown | Luke Patten; Hazem El Masri, Tim Winitana, Willie Tonga, Heka Nanai; Ben Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth; Jarrad Hickey, Corey Hughes, Chris Armit; Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan; Lee Te Maari. Interchange: Justin Tsoulos, Danny Williams, Brad Morrin, Michael Sullivan.