Fans flock to Sydney for Warriors

Warriors fans from throughout the Western Bay of Plenty can't wait to cheer on their team from the sidelines in Australia at this weekend's NRL Grand Final in Sydney.

Te Puke's Wendy Hicks McElney and husband John McElney have been amping for their rugby league team all season. When the Warriors beat the Melbourne Storm last weekend to qualify for the grand final against the Manly Sea Eagles this Sunday, the couple were ecstatic. They jumped at the chance to buy tickets to the match - and flights to get there.

"As soon as they won we got on to the computer and got some seats," Mrs Hicks McElney said. "My husband has been saying all along if they got to the finals, no matter what, we are going."

The support from New Zealand fans has overwhelmed airlines, which scrambled to provide more flights to Sydney after all available seats sold out on Tuesday. One chartered Air New Zealand flight to the final sold out in six minutes.

"We are just so excited," Mrs Hicks McElney said. "We have already got all the jerseys out and the flags and all of our gear. We are kitted out to the teeth."

The Warriors have only made it to the grand final once in their 16-year history, when they lost to the Sydney Roosters in 2002.

"It's good to see the Warriors are getting the support they deserve. You certainly have to have nerves of steel to be a Warriors supporter but they are worth it."

The couple have been mad Warriors fans since the team first began 1995. "The neighbours definitely know when the Warriors are playing. I'm sure we would have got a few calls from noise control by now."

The couple fly out today, a day after Otumoetai Eels under 12 coach Vern Atwell boarded his plane to attend the match.

Mr Atwell is a self-confessed Warriors nut, and has been since they started. He used to go to their games when he lived in Auckland.

Last weekend Mr Atwell cheered on the team from his Whakamarama home.

"I was sitting there with my Warriors jacket on in the lounge and the heater going next to me. After a while I was sweating so much, but they were winning so I thought I had better keep it on. I didn't want to jinx them or anything. By the end of the game I was soaked wet but I didn't mind."

Mr Atwell will be joining 20 mates in Sydney for the match. He has packed his jacket in preparation to wear it again for the final and spur his team on to victory. "It's the finals and the Warriors. There will be no holding back ... this is going to be our day."