League: Dates announced for Warriors pre-season trainings in Far North

Warriors fans will get to see the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the Far North as they embark on a three-day pre-season training camp. Photo/Photosport.nz

The Warriors will be putting in the hard yards on and off the field when they visit the Far North in just under two weeks.

Local league fans are counting down the days until the Vodafone Warriors arrive for their three-day training camp on Tuesday, December 6, when the team will make an impressive entrance into Kaitaia Airport on a DC3. Warriors management this week released an outline of what the team will be up to while they are here, with plans involving hundreds of school children and the wider community.

Pupils from more than 25 Far North primary and intermediate schools have been invited to a sports day with the 36 players on the Wednesday,followed by a lunch where the kids can get up close to the sporting stars.

The following day the squad will hold an open training session at Arnold Rae Park between 9am and 11am, so the public can see the coaches put the boys through their paces.

But in the afternoon the hard work will really begin, when players join a selection of students from local schools, for a DIY makeover of the abandoned sports ground at Bonnetts Rd, the former home of the now-defunct football team the Northern Nomads.

The plan is to fix up and paint the clubrooms, with Fulton Hogan there on the day to get the playing surface up to scratch.

The Warriors will also be running a competition asking children to submit designs of a playground they'd like to see built on the site - see the details below.

Vodafone Warriors community relations manager Petrece Kesha said the team usually split into smaller parties to visit the regions during their pre-season campaign.

But the decision has been made to bring the whole squad this time in light of the challenges the Far North faced.

"We are a sporting team but our focus for this trip is to engage with the community," she said.

"It's really about inspiring these kids and showing them what they are capable of."

While it will be mostly the NRL first team squad, the tour will not include the Warriors' Kiwi players who have six weeks off after the Four Nations campaign in England.

Among those coming north are new head coach Stephen Kearney and marquee players Manu Vatuvei, Simon Mannering and star fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Also accompanying the side is Awanui legend Stacey "The Little General" Jones.

- The playground design competition is open to 5- to 13-year-olds. Winners will be chosen by players, with prizes including a tablet, Vodafone Warriors merchandise and a chance to join the team on the Thursday. Entries to the Northland Age office in Kaitaia; to community@warriors.kiwi; or PO Box 12 - 224, Penrose, Auckland. Entries close December 2 at midday.
- Northland Age