– A visit to one of the country’s leading schools and an open training session are on the programme for the Vodafone Warriors when they arrive in Hamilton tomorrow (Wednesday) ahead of their NRL trial against Melbourne the following night.
The Vodafone Warriors are taking a contingent of 34 players south for their preseason hit-out against the Storm at Waikato Stadium on Thursday night (kick-off 7.30).
On arrival in Hamilton they’ll visit the highly-regarded Southwell School around 11.30 before heading to the stadium later in the afternoon to headline a Vodafone Warriors One Community event.
Starting at 3.00pm, some Vodafone Warriors not playing in the trial will be involved in a signing session and coaching activities ahead of the NRL side’s training run at the stadium at 4.00pm. Melbourne is due to train at the ground immediately afterwards from 5.00pm-6.00pm.
During the day some non-playing Vodafone Warriors are also due to visit Hamilton offices of club sponsors Vodafone, Lion Red, Suzuki, Allied Work Force and Konica Minolta as well as the Hamilton City Council, which is staging the trial.
There was some promotional activity last week when an advance guard of Waikato products Lance Hohaia and Sam Rapira plus returning Vodafone Warriors great Stacey Jones and 2008 Player of the Year Simon Mannering travelled to Hamilton to push the club’s first visit to Hamilton since 2006.
Coach Ivan Cleary says he will pick his strongest side available for this match ahead of two more hit-outs against North Queensland at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday, February 22 and Gold Coast in Lismore on February 28.
As well as the NRL group, the Vodafone Junior Warriors will have a squad of 27 players in Hamilton for their trial against a Waikato Selection (kick-off 5.30pm) as they prepare for their 2009 NYC campaign.
It will be the first of two trials in three days for the young players. Many will back up in another build-up outing against Hawkes Bay in Napier on Saturday (February 14).
Go to www.warriors.co.nz f=or all details about the Vodafone Warriors-Melbourne trial in Hamilton (including where to pre-purchase tickets).
The Vodafone Junior Warriors’ line-ups for the two trials are:
Thursday, February 12 – v Waikato Selection: Peter Mills; Sam Limu-Franklin, Rusty Bristow, Jason Cook, Brandon Nixon; Shaun Johnson, Trent Wallace; Luke Laban, Jarome Kutia, Junior Afulao; Sione Lousi, Ryan Laurenson; Kurt Kara (captain). Interchange – Kevin Locke, George Smith, Beau King, Meli Koliavu, Gowan Duff, Daniel Palavi, John Palavi, Kyle Bos, Elijah Niko.
Saturday, February 14 – v Hawkes Bay: Peter Mills; Meli Koliavu, Jason Cook, Siuatonga Likiliki, Bill Tupou; Simon Gibson, Kyle Bos; Beau King, Alehana Mara (captain), Elijah Niko; Mike Afioga, Daniel Palavi; Gowan Duff. Interchange – Brandon Nixon, Jarome Kutia, Rusty Bristow, Shaun Johnson, Luke Laban, Junior Afualo, Ryan Laurenson, Kurt Kara, Matt Robinson.
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