NRL: Historic Anzac Day clash at Mt Smart

Konrad Hurrell savours the Warriors' victory against the Melbourne Storm during this year's Anzac Day match. Photo / Getty Images

First of five NRL games across Australia and New Zealand in tribute to Gallipoli.

The Warriors will play the Gold Coast Titans in a historic Anzac Day clash at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, as part of the NRL's tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.

It will be the first league match played in New Zealand on Anzac Day, and the first of five NRL games to be played across this country and Australia on Anzac Day.

Each match will feature a special Anzac commemoration, as part of one of the biggest days of football in the game's history.

"It's a real positive from our point of view to have a game here for the first time ever," said Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle.

"It's the first time that there has ever been a game of rugby league in New Zealand on Anzac Day and it's good being that the first one is the 100-year celebration.

"To celebrate 100-years of the Anzac makes it a special day and then it will be a special day for us obviously to start the ball rolling with the NRL. That's a real positive."

Since 2009, the Warriors have traditionally played their Anzac game against the Storm, but with the NRL looking to spread matches throughout the main centres in 2015, Auckland was an obvious inclusion.

Melbourne will host the Manly Sea Eagles in the fourth match of the day.

"It's a 2pm kick-off," Doyle explained. "Hopefully we can get everybody out to fill the stadium at Mt Smart for the first one and then they can all go and enjoy the rest of the day watching the other four."

The club is considering ideas for a special pre-match show and talking closely with the RSA to ensure any theme is respectful of the Anzac tradition.

"That's certainly our intention," Doyle explained. "We've been talking about what we will do on Anzac Day to make sure that there is a special remembrance.

"If you look at what the Warriors did in their very first game ever against the Broncos, with the war-scenario [as part of the pre-match festivities].

"We've already been talking to the RSA and we'll keep working on that," he said.

Games will be played from Auckland to Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in a 10-hour marathon of league.

The matches, on Saturday, April 25, will be:

• Warriors v Titans at Auckland - 2pm.
• Knights v Cowboys - 4pm.
• Roosters v Dragons - 6pm.
• Storm v Sea Eagles - 8pm.
• Broncos v Eels - 10pm.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play the Tigers on Friday, April 24.

There will be two games on Sunday, April 26 - the Panthers versus the Sharks and the reigning premiers the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the Canberra Raiders.

"Naturally, the focus of the day will be on the Anzac commemorations," NRL head of commercial Paul Kind said.

"It will also be an incredible day of football as the game shifts to five different cities in succession, allowing rugby league to recognise and commemorate the Anzac spirit."

The complete NRL 2015 draw is released this afternoon.

Warriors' Anzac Day clashes

• Round 7, 2009: Warriors 14 Storm 14
• Round 8, 2010: Storm 40 Warriors 6
• Round 7, 2011: Warriors 18 Storm 14
• Round 8, 2012: Storm 32 Warriors 14
• Round 7, 2013: Storm 28 Warriors 18
• Round 8, 2014: Warriors 16 Storm 10.