Another extra time heartbreaker
Issac Luke shows his dejection after the Warriors lose in golden point extra time. Getty Images
A huge weekend lies ahead for my beloved Vodafone Warriors, with the Penrith Panthers coming to Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.
The Panthers are on fire, having given the Brisbane Broncos a bit of a touch-up at the weekend, whereas we were again left crying after a hard-to-swallow loss in golden point extra time against the Canberra Raiders.
That’s three losses in our last four – and all in golden point.
Credit where it is due, we were outstanding in coming back from 22-4 down with three converted tries locking it up at 22-22 on the hooter.
But there was misery just around the corner with a good Raiders outfit going 100 metres to score from the kick-off. No points for second.
This weekend is the Women in League round, a round I cherish because it is easy to overlook the vital part women play in our game.
Sure, there are women among the players, officials and many, many fans, but it is the countless volunteer hours put in by women, the endless cycle of taking the kids to training, the washing pf team jerseys, the nursing of bruises and so much more that I admire.
Without women, our game would grind to a halt – and it would do so pretty quickly.
The main game is at 5pm but there are three games on offer, so there’s great value for money for Warriors fans.
The first game on Mt Smart is at 12.40pm and features the women’s sides from the Akarana Falcons taking on the Manukau Stingrays. That should be a cracking game to watch.
Then the NYC Holden Cup team swings into action straight after at 2.40pm.
And there is a mountain of stuff to do to celebrate the day at the ground.
You can get your photo taken in the Harvey Norman Community Fun Zone with Vodafone Warriors players from 4pm-5pm.
Then there’s face-painting and a passing wall and there is even a chance to go in the draw to win a Suzuki vehicle.
Of course, what also had my attention over the weekend was the Super Rugby quarter finals.
I was really pleased three New Zealand sides made it through to the semis which will all be played this weekend.
But I was gutted the side that fell was the Crusaders.
That’s because I have a soft spot for their coach Todd Blackadder, who will leave the red and blacks after eight years in charge without having won a title.
The old romantic in me was keen for one of the nicest guys in rugby to go out a winner.
But even though his Crusaders lost, Blackadder will go out a winner in my book, regardless.
He was a superb player for the Crusaders and the All Blacks, is a gentle giant of a man who is generous to a fault with his time, is a quality leader and one of the game’s good guys.
Whatever he takes on next, I wish him all the best.
In the meantime the Hurricanes are at home again, facing the Chiefs, while the Highlanders will head to South Africa to play the Lions.
What price an all New Zealand final?
All the best to all the sides involved - and of course, go the mighty Vodafone Warriors!