Warriors sell out first homecoming match
The Warriors have sold out their first home match in nearly three years and more than 25,000 fans will attend Mount Smart Stadium for their NRL clash with the Wests Tigers on July 3.
The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 forced the Auckland club to be based in Australia for almost two-and-a-half years.
The Warriors, after performing admirably and nearly making the playoffs in 2020, have struggled since while being away from home.
They are 15th on this season’s ladder after 15 rounds and have won just four of their 11 matches.
However, their long-suffering fans will nonetheless pack out their Auckland home for the club’s emotional return.
The club said it would be only the fourth time in its history that it has sold out a fixture in the regular season.
‘‘We’re so thrilled having Mount Smart packed for our members, fans, families and sponsors who will at last see the Vodafone Warriors playing at home,’’ Warriors chief executive Cameron George said in a statement.
‘‘We can’t wait for July 3, one of the most important and emotional occasions in our history.’’
The Warriors last sold out Mt Smart for club legend Simon Mannering’s farewell match against the Canberra Raiders in 2018.
Next month’s Tigers fixture will be their fourth in Auckland this season while the club is still based in Redcliffe in Queensland.
The Warriors will also host the Melbourne Storm on July, the Canterbury Bulldogs on August 12 and the Gold Coast Titans on September 3.
Stacey Jones has taken over as Warriors’ short-term coach after Nathan Brown’s departure this month.