‘New’ was the overriding theme as the Vodafone Warriors today launched their 15th season since being introduced to Australian rugby league’s premier competition in 1995.
Entering the 2009 campaign with the motto ‘new year, new team, new look’, the club formally introduced its new players and especially its new look from first-year apparel sponsor Canterbury of New Zealand.
A feature of the season-launching lunch at Mt Smart Stadium was a fashion parade involving several of the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL squad including captain Steve Price, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Tate, Wade McKinnon, Jerome Ropati and two of the new signings ex-Broncos Denan Kemp and Joel Moon.
Together with professional models they showed off the club’s new playing kit – both home and away strips – as well as the full range of Vodafone Warriors apparel. They also modelled Canterbury’s new range of street wear, which the players will regularly be kitted out in.
“It’s a huge day for us as a club being able to show off our new players and our whole NRL squad as well as giving the public a look at the full range of apparel produced by Canterbury of New Zealand,” said Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah.
“Canterbury has done a superb job with the range including the new street wear apparel. We’re delighted with the look of our new playing kit and the players are excited about it, too. It gives the club a totally new feel and we can’t wait for the season to get under way.”
Canterbury stores and other major retail outlets have the new club apparel in sale now while the street wear range will become available on a progressive basis. Vodafone Warriors supporters can also go online at www.warriors.co.nz to buy the 2009 jerseys plus other apparel and merchandise.
In technical language, the Vodafone Warriors’ 2009 jersey is described as “a durable lightweight, breathable, moisture management fabric that, combined with power stretch side panels, gives a superior fit, giving players a top-end technical ergonomic jersey. The relaxed fit replica is as stipulated by NRL, a fully sublimated polyester garment, which allows all logos to be dyed into the garment when made. The Telstra NRL, CCC and Vodafone Warriors crest are fully embroidered.”
While the new kit and the fashion parade were a focal point of the launch, it was also a chance for the audience of more than 400 to get a closer look at the major new acquisitions – Moon, Kemp, former North Queensland second rower Jacob Lillyman and just-signed ex-Newcastle prop Jesse Royal and former Melbourne halfback Liam (both New Zealanders). And, of course, it was a time to become reacquainted with club legend Stacey Jones, back with the Vodafone Warriors on a one-year contract that could see him take his club record tally of appearances beyond 250 (he starts on 238).
The keynote speaker at the launch was NRL chief executive David Gallop who reserved special praise for the work the Vodafone Warriors had done in the community, culminating in the Club of the Year accolade at the One Community Awards last year after vice-captain Ruben Wiki had won the Ken Stephen Medal for his community work in 2007.
Gallop also commended the Vodafone Warriors for becoming the first eighth-placed side if history to beat the top-ranked team (Melbourne) in the first round of the 2008 finals and emphasised the club’s critical importance to the NRL.
The launch came just days after a huge crowd of 16,703 had watched the Vodafone Warriors beat North Queensland 32-28 in their second NRL trial at North Harbour Stadium last Sunday.
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