League: Warriors lose beards for charity

Wairangi Koopu has his beard shaved off in Aotea Square today to help raise money raise for the Kidz First Hospital. Photo / Greg Bowker

The New Zealand Warriors lathered up for a good cause this morning to raise money for a children's hospital.

The beards had become part of the side's signature in the later rounds of the NRL competition and were used as a way of saluting the whiskers of Warriors veteran Ruben Wiki.

The Warriors won eight of their last 10 season games to make the finals before beating the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters.

But their chances of making the grand final were snuffed out by a determined Manly side on Saturday.

Money raised from this morning's shave-off went to the Kidz First Children's Hospital in Manukau City.

People can still donate to the charity by texting the word beards to 4483 and automatically make a $3 donation to Kidz First.

- NZ HERALD STAFF