The Vodafone Warriors are coming home to play at Mount Smart Stadium for the first time in 716 days following confirmation they’ll host the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in their round 22 NRL clash on Sunday, August 15 (4.00pm kick-off).
The match will also double as a special farewell for captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who will be eyeing his last home game in Auckland before he finishes up with the Vodafone Warriors.
In announcing the much-anticipated homecoming, Vodafone Warriors CEO Cameron George said the occasion would reward not only the club’s NRL players, staff and sponsors but especially the legion of long-suffering families, members and fans.
“This is going to be one of the biggest and certainly most emotional days in our great club’s history,” he said.
“We are all so excited knowing we are finally set to see the Vodafone Warriors, sponsors, families, members and fans coming together for a game day like no other on August 15.
“There’s no doubt these will be the hottest tickets in town. What we want now is to see Mount Smart Stadium packed to the rafters to support the team and to farewell Roger.
“The club as a whole has made huge sacrifices to keep the competition going during the Covid-19 pandemic but it’s our families, members and fans back home in New Zealand who have suffered the most through not being able to connect with their team. Their continued support and patience has been incredible.
“Our special thanks go to the NRL for providing ongoing support. We can’t say enough about what they’ve done for us over the last two seasons.”
The match will end a drought of one year, 11 months and 16 days – 17,180 hours – between games at Mount Smart Stadium, the Vodafone Warriors’ last encounter at their home ground being against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday, August 30, 2019.
By the time they meet Canterbury Bankstown on August 15, they would have played their last 20 home games in Australia.
It’s yet to be confirmed when the Vodafone Warriors will travel home.
- Tickets are now on presale for Vodafone Warriors members through Ticketmaster and will be on sale to the public from 3.00pm tomorrow (Thursday, June 10).
