Warriors betraying fans with Aussie move
Roar Guru By Curtis Woodward, 21 Oct 2012 Curtis Woodward is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger
- Tagged:
- Eden Park, NRL, NZ Warriors, Rugby League, Wayne Scurrah
James Maloney hit after getting a kick away during the NRL Round 25. AAP Image/Action Photographics/Grant Trouville
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Pigs can fly and hell is freezing over. The New Zealand Warriors are on the verge of playing a home game in Australia next season.
Warriors Chief Executive Wayne Scurrah confirmed on Friday that his club would play ten games at Mount Smart Stadium and one at the much larger Eden Park.
But many are bewildered by the club’s intention to host a game across the ditch. Despite being the only NRL franchise in the country, the Warriors will look at Australian cities like Perth and Adelaide for possible venues.
It isn’t confirmed and still may not happen, but the fact that the Warriors are considering the move has shocked many fans.
“The NRL has indicated it wants to see a number of clubs’ games played away from traditional home grounds next year,” Scurrah said.
“With this in mind, we’re working with the NRL in assessing a number of options to play our 12th match at a venue either elsewhere in New Zealand or in Australia.
“A survey of our members earlier this year has also provided really positive support for us hosting a game outside Auckland. This will also provide them with an exciting opportunity for a new membership experience.
“Our home base is still Mount Smart Stadium with ten games scheduled there and, for the third season in a row, we will also play at Eden Park.”
Supporters have taken to social media in outrage with one fan calling it “insane”.
The negatives would far outweigh the positives if the move were to go ahead. The Warriors have been playing in the top flight since 1995 and have rarely shifted away from Auckland. Despite untapped, major markets like Christchurch and Wellington, the code still comes a very distant second to rugby union.
Taking a game away from New Zealand will only disenchant fans further.
Sydney clubs have shifted home games in the past for clashes with interstate sides. These moves are purely financial.
But the Sydney clubs don’t have a whole country at their feet.
“It’s going to be fantastic for everyone, especially Vodafone Warriors members, knowing the exact details of the draw for most of the season will be locked and loaded months in advance,” Scurrah added.
Not so fantastic for members if a game is shifted from their shores.
“We will work with Air New Zealand on special packages tailored for our members,” he said.
“In addition, the fixed scheduling next year provides an exciting opportunity for Auckland City to now promote visitation for games in the city. It’s especially attractive for our away members who can plan to come to games and help to boost attendances.”
It’s a strange old world.
- Explore:
- Eden Park, NRL, NZ Warriors, Rugby League, Wayne Scurrah
October 21st 2012 @ 5:10am
Johnno said | October 21st 2012 @ 5:10am | Report comment
Guys wake up pro sport is a business it is about 1 thing only. Making money. Just like the AB’S have a sponsor heaven forbid lol on the central part of the jersey like all the league teams and the wallabies. Making money is no 1 and if the warriors can make some cash and some market share in sydney or in OZ so be it good luck to them. It helps make more money for kiwi league, that can go down to fund juniors. Just like AB fans who get upset of the jersey deal, they should be happy someone wanted to invest millions in them. And same with this if it makes the warrior more money to pay there players so be it. And a lot of ex pats in OZ anyway who follow the warriors. Man united travel the world playing soccer , heck they came out once to play the socceroos. the warriors are just getting with the times.
I wonder if the write of this article opposed super league to, i thought it was the best thing for rugby league and so did many of the players more money for rugby league. Why have a constraint of trade on the warriors, or any team to break with traditions, always put money making first that is the commercial reality of pro sports and if you don’t foliow that rule then pro sport is not for you. Go and follow amateur sport , where traditions are upheld and money runs a distant 2nd in the name of being pure.
October 21st 2012 @ 8:18am
steve b said | October 21st 2012 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Bring one down to S.A plenty of Kiwis down here that would love it , great idea .
October 21st 2012 @ 8:45am
Mals said | October 21st 2012 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Why not play a Warriors game on the South Island? They could use the new indoor stadium in Dunedin which would create perfect playing conditions for rugby league.
October 21st 2012 @ 9:21am
code 13 said | October 21st 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Exactly. Play a home game in Dunedin in late May/June when the Super Rugby has its one month break.
There was no Super Rugby or Internationals played there for about 6 weeks or so.
October 21st 2012 @ 5:51pm
nick said | October 21st 2012 @ 5:51pm | Report comment
no one goes. Jade was empty the last time
October 22nd 2012 @ 12:04pm
nz crowds said | October 22nd 2012 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
The NZ averages for NRL games are as follows:
Auckland:
Mt Smart 14,009 (211 games)
Eden Park 37,957 (2 games)
Wellington:
WRS 20,173 (4 games)
Christchurch:
Lancaster 16,008 (5 games)
Hamilton:
Waikato 16,616 (2 games)
I’d say Warriors should play 9 games at Mt Smart, 2 games at Eden Park and 1 game at one of those other 3 out of Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton. Then another NRL club should play a club gamein NZ each year against the Warriors at one of the remaining two cities – so 13 NRL home and away games in NZ each year.
October 23rd 2012 @ 11:46am
Tru Blu said | October 23rd 2012 @ 11:46am | Report comment
They are playing a game in Dunedin this year.
October 21st 2012 @ 10:44am
nick said | October 21st 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Why is this a big deal?
They used to play Tigers home games occasionally in chch a few years ago. This sort of thing happens every year for one team or another
October 21st 2012 @ 12:06pm
Curtis Woodward said | October 21st 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Mate thats Sydney sides hosting sides with f all fans in Sydney..Warriors have a whole country
October 21st 2012 @ 5:51pm
nick said | October 21st 2012 @ 5:51pm | Report comment
Not really. When the Tigers came to chch it was classed as a home game for them. They’ve called themselves the NZ warriors but they’re not. They’re the Auckland warriors. Thats how the country views them and theres no ned for this nz bollocks. We already have an NZ league team, the kiwis.
Its a non story.
October 21st 2012 @ 1:47pm
oikee said | October 21st 2012 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
I think taking the extra game to Wellington or even Christchurch would and could be available. I really cant see them taking a home game to Australia, and the ARLC probably would say no anyhow. The whole point is to take games to country towns big enough to host a game, like Cairns are hosting the Dogs, 2 games at Suncorp is another good idea that has worked well, double headers.
It is not all about the bush, as some places are not big enough to support a match. Looking into the warriors for next year, i have seen they are hosting Penrith at Hamilton in a trail game, that is good for their fans in this area, and they are also playing the Broncos in Dunedin in their last trail game. That is a huge trail game. Huge.
They play 3 trails, the first game is against the Titans i think at Burleigh on the coast, so agin, taking the game to the fans. They also have another blockbuster lined up for Eden Park, i love this event. On top of all that they have the Anzac day clash with the Storm as a yearly major event now as well.
The Warriors wont be losing any support, trust me. Along with my Broncos and the Roosters, they are a top team.
October 21st 2012 @ 7:39pm
Goanna said | October 21st 2012 @ 7:39pm | Report comment
Move the Warriors to Newtown or Gosford. NZ is a mad union country, noone is going to change that. On top of that the OZ dollar buys $1.25 NZ pesos, so their players won’t be happy continuing to be paid under the odds.
October 22nd 2012 @ 7:37am
outblack jack said | October 22nd 2012 @ 7:37am | Report comment
If anything Perth should be the go…when Manly brought their home game to Perth vs Warriors the amount of ex pats over in WA working in the mining industry is MASSIVE!
I for one went to that game and every supporter was asking for Warrior merchandise but since it was Manlys home game, they got to sell all of their merchandise and sadly not warrior gear.
Business wise, Perth is def the GO, just dont play at Pattersons Stadium, better off at NIB for a better atmosphere.
IMO anyway.
October 22nd 2012 @ 8:13am
oikee said | October 22nd 2012 @ 8:13am | Report comment
If the Warriors failed to set up a merchandise tent that is their fault. Another team can take the Warriors to Perth again, the Warriors dont have to take a game over their, it is up to them to promote their own club, get off their backsides.
Warriors need to be playing in Wellington or ChCh.
October 22nd 2012 @ 10:07am
Redback said | October 22nd 2012 @ 10:07am | Report comment
They should be called the west sydney warriors and play out of blacktown they would get 20-30000 each game easy.
October 22nd 2012 @ 12:05pm
nz crowds said | October 22nd 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Warriors fans in Sydney can already go to away games.
October 23rd 2012 @ 1:44am
Adam Everitt said | October 23rd 2012 @ 1:44am | Report comment
I don’t understand the idea. If you’re a country’s flagship domestic club you should continue to build up a rapport with your own countrymen, particularly if you have ideas of bringing in a second New Zealand team to the big league. As an away team there is no problem but as a home side it makes little sense.