Warriors plan return to full home stadium

Warriors players may be preparing for today’s NRL game against the Knights in Newcastle, but those behind the scenes can start celebrating now.

The club’s only fixture in New Zealand this year is already close to selling out, two months before the game takes place.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic and the risks around the trans-Tasman travel bubble being paused for any outbreak, the Warriors will spend all of this season based in Australia.

But the club has said the August 15 game against the Bulldogs will be played at Mt Smart Stadium, which will be the team’s first game in New Zealand in almost two years.

Warriors chairman Rob Croot told Stuff that tickets and corporate packages had been selling like hotcakes.

‘‘As I understand, corporate has gone nuts and I’m not sure there’s much of anything left there,’’ Croot said. ‘‘There are a few tickets in the South Stand available, otherwise we’re well on the journey for a sell out.’’

There was always expected to be interest in the Warriors’ only game in New Zealand this season, but the speed at which tickets have sold has come as a pleasant surprise.

‘‘We backed ourselves to sell it

out, but we haven’t even released all the entertainment package that is going to go with this yet,’’ Croot said. ‘‘I’m absolutely stoked, we dreamed it would go this way, but we’ve been away for two years.

‘‘We’re not sitting in the top eight at the moment and we want to be there at the end of the season.

‘‘When you’re not performing there’s always risk that you don’t get that backing, but it’s awesome to be at the place we’re at and it will be a sellout.’’