Wife and work unlikely to stop ex-Warriors for NRL grand final

Wairangi Koopu. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Two former Warriors players are scheming how they're going to catch the NRL grand final when they're on respective work and wife duties.

Class of 2002 finalist Wairangi Koopu is on commentator duties for Maori Television's Te Reo channel coverage of the Rugby World Cup.

His Sunday night shift where he's likely to be calling Pool C game Ireland against Italy cuts into the Sydney fixture against the Manly Sea Eagles.

"I actually think I miss the first 20 minutes of the game. I'm gutted it clashes, I'm pretty filthy but it's just how it goes."

His commentary mates Tamati Waaka and Hohepa Mclean were also gutted, he joked.

"I think they were a bit like me, they were almost thinking of ringing in sick and going to the grand final."

Still, there could be some swifties pulled at the news station, the former second rower said.

"We don't actually go to the games, we call it off the tubes. There's like three TVs in there so one of them may be switched over to the [Warriors]."

Koopu said he'd been chatting to current players about the "circus" that grand final week was in Sydney.

He was hoping that Lance Hohaia, who was also there in 2002, would be able to walk away from the Warriors a championship winner before he heads offshore.

"Some players don't ever get an opportunity to go to a grand final, so, you know, for Lance, who's been great for the Warriors throughout his tenure, it's enormous for him. Hopefully, he'll lead the club to a premiership - if he does, he'll be a very lucky man."

Former All Black Marc Ellis, a Warrior from 1996 to 1998, is in Sydney with his wife Agustina but he said a friend had tickets if he wanted to go.

"Half of me is saying I should really enjoy a weekend away from the kids with my wife but half of me is saying I might try and get Sunday afternoon off and sneak along to the game live."

"There's going to be a bit of bribery and corruption but clearly I'd love to get there."