Warriors and Blues double up and forge closer links

The Warriors and the Blues hope to build a closer relationship after announcing a historic double-header yesterday.

The Auckland NRL and Super Rugby clubs confirmed the double bill for March 21 next year, with both games at Eden Park.

The Warriors will face the Raiders at 5pm, before the Blues play the Brumbies at 7.35pm, with an express change around of fielding markings and advertising in between.

It’s evidence of the blossoming of the relationship between the two organisations.

Blues chairman Don McKinnon said the cross-code rivalry was a thing of the past.

“We have a desire to work together,” said McKinnon. “It doesn’t make sense not to. There is a little bit of competition, for players coming out of secondary school, but that exists with every other NRL club and every Super Rugby club. I don’t view the Warriors any differently.”

McKinnon said Sanzaar supported the initiative from the beginning and New Zealand Rugby also had an open mind.

“There was no opposition whatsoever so maybe that similar mindset exists,” said McKinnon.

McKinnon and Warriors CEO Cameron George emphasised the ongoing relationship and future sharing of ideas.

“We need to be world class in how we prepare our athletes, recover our athletes, in nutrition, in mental skills,” said McKinnon. “So it makes sense to share that knowledge, when we get that opportunity.”

“There are all sorts of things we can help each other with,” said George, pinpointing the coaching teams working closer together to swap ideas and other initiatives in the high performance area.

Eden Park will be one of four “home” venues for the Warriors in 2020, with the NRL draw also released yesterday.

They will play nine games at Mt Smart, face the Cowboys in Wellington (June 27) and return to Brisbane again for the NRL Magic Weekend.

They start the season away at Newcastle, with their first Mt Smart game in round four (versus Wests Tigers), following the Eden Park match and a trip to Manly.

A quirk of the schedule sees only four Warriors games in Sydney.