Rd 18 Game Day: Friday night footy back at Go Media Stadium

Friday night football is back at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart for the first of four instalments when the One New Zealand Warriors host South Sydney this week (8.00pm kick-off).

It will be followed by more Friday night fare when the club welcomes Canberra (July 21), Manly Warringah (August 18) and St George Illawarra (August 25).

With the One New Zealand Warriors coming off three straight wins and sitting fifth on the ladder, the clash against Souths is already a sell-out as the club braces for the fifth huge game day at Go Media Stadium this season.

The crowd will take the total attendance in five home games well beyond 100,000 for the year to date.

The first four matches against Canterbury-Bankstown, North Queensland, the Sydney Roosters and the Dolphins drew a total attendance of 86,371, an average of 21,592 a game. Those numbers have been topped only by the club’s first season in 1995.

To mark the first Friday night footy experience of the season, Go Media Stadium fans can look forward to a double header for the price of one.

The club’s New South Wales Cup side will launch the action on the field with its 18th-round clash against the Rabbitohs (5.30pm kick-off) before the big one against one of the NRL’s heavyweights.

Earlier in the campaign South Sydney had a run of six straight wins including consecutive victories over Penrith, Brisbane and Melbourne but Sunday’s 7-31 loss to North Queensland was its fourth in its last five starts. The Rabbitohs now sit eighth on the table just two points behind the Warriors.

Apart from the football, there’ll live entertainment at 7.15pm from hip hop collective SWIDT.

Established activities and attractions will be available around the stadium along with numerous food and beverage outlets; the 95 Social Precinct is always a popular hub for families and friends to gather pre-game.

Merchandise will be available from the SuperStore as well as other outlets around the stadium.