Nationwide Support For Warriors Open Day Trial

Leading Club Sides Throughout New Zealand To Attend
Auckland, New Zealand – 9 November 2000 – The New Zealand Warriors have been ‘blown away’ by support from league players throughout the country for the open trial to be held in Auckland on Saturday, 11 November.

The open trial, which is designed to promote professional rugby league as well as identify new talent, has attracted strong interest from clubs in Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Northland, Canterbury, Taranaki as well as Australia with a number arranging for top age and senior grade players to take part.

New Warriors Coach, Daniel Anderson, says the club and the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) were committed to identifying local talent at the club level with a view to developing an entire playing roster that would build depth throughout the Warriors’ ranks.

“The open day is all about developing elite players and building positive relationships at the club level. Fundamental to this is introducing club level players, coaching and administrative staff from around the country to the Warriors’ philosophy of performance and accountability.”

Anderson says the Warriors have been particularly pleased with the support of clubs from the Wellington region. The Porirua Rugby League Club is bringing sixteen age grade players to the day and eighteen are coming from Te Whanganui a Tara Maori Wellington Rugby League.

Teams from the Wellington region will join a host of others from Auckland, with almost all Auckland clubs expressing interest in the trial. Volunteer support will come from the Glenora, Otahuhu, Hibiscus Coast, Northcote and Mt Albert clubs.

Trialists will be organised into six teams according to size, weight and age in order to give players the best possible opportunity to show their ability. Each game will consist of two twenty-minute periods of play to allow flexibility with regard to interchange and be officiated by NZRL referees.

Mick Watson, newly appointed General Manager, New Zealand Warriors Limited, says the day also provided an opportunity for the rugby league public to meet key Warriors players and staff. “As we move forward we want to maximise every opportunity to introduce the club to the public. The support we have received from fans already has been hugely encouraging and we are aiming to build on this with initiatives such as the trial day.”

Watson says ten NRL players, including Stephen Matthews from the Maori World Cup squad, Ian Dunneman from the North Queensland Cowboys and Mark Tookey, Jason Death and Awen Guttenbeil from the New Zealand Warriors will be involved in the day and be available to meet spectators.

All players wishing to trial are asked to assemble at 10.00am at the Mount Albert Rugby League Club, Fowlds Park, Mount Albert. All trialists will be required to wear a mouth guard during games.

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