KIDS SHOWCASED: Budding Whanganui stars will play in the lead up to the Vodafone Warriors' second and final NRL summer trial against the Gold Coast Titans in Palmerston North on Sunday.
KIDS SHOWCASED: Budding Whanganui stars will play in the lead up to the Vodafone Warriors' second and final NRL summer trial against the Gold Coast Titans in Palmerston North on Sunday.
The future of Whanganui rugby league will be showcased this weekend when Mid Central Zone Rugby League hosts the NRL clash between the Vodofone Warriors and the Gold Coast Titans.
Three Whanganui Boxon age group teams will mix it up with sides from the Linton Cobras, Dannevirke Tigers and KiaOra Warriors in the U7, U9 and U11 grades at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North.
Seasoned Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman and Issac Luke have all been named for the Vodafone Warriors' second and final NRL trial - the 'Summer Smash' - against the Gold Coast Titans.
Whanganui Boxon founding member Lisa Reweti said the club would be sending a side for each grade to play at half time in the defence force match between army and airforce kicking off at 11.45am on Sunday and then as a precursor to the main event starting at 2pm. Reweti said Mid Central Zone had taken the opportunity to make a weekend of rugby league celebration by hosting a festival at Arana Manawatu between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.
"The festival will be a real celebration of the code open to everyone, although to participate on-field they must be under 12," Reweti said.
"Both the Warriors and Titans have opened up their captains runs on Saturday to the public and there will be activities, entertainment and sausage sizzles throughout the day."
