Leading Club Sides Throughout New Zealand To Attend
Auckland, New Zealand – 9 November 2000 – The New Zealand Warriors have been ‘blown away’ by support from league players
throughout the country for the open trial to be held in Auckland on Saturday, 11 November.
The open trial, which is designed to promote professional rugby league as well as identify new talent, has attracted
strong interest from clubs in Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Northland, Canterbury, Taranaki as well as
Australia with a number arranging for top age and senior grade players to take part.
New Warriors Coach, Daniel Anderson, says the club and the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) were committed to identifying
local talent at the club level with a view to developing an entire playing roster that would build depth throughout the
Warriors’ ranks.
“The open day is all about developing elite players and building positive relationships at the club level. Fundamental
to this is introducing club level players, coaching and administrative staff from around the country to the Warriors’
philosophy of performance and accountability.”
Anderson says the Warriors have been particularly pleased with the support of clubs from the Wellington region. The
Porirua Rugby League Club is bringing sixteen age grade players to the day and eighteen are coming from Te Whanganui a
Tara Maori Wellington Rugby League.
Teams from the Wellington region will join a host of others from Auckland, with almost all Auckland clubs expressing
interest in the trial. Volunteer support will come from the Glenora, Otahuhu, Hibiscus Coast, Northcote and Mt Albert
clubs.
Trialists will be organised into six teams according to size, weight and age in order to give players the best possible
opportunity to show their ability. Each game will consist of two twenty-minute periods of play to allow flexibility with
regard to interchange and be officiated by NZRL referees.
Mick Watson, newly appointed General Manager, New Zealand Warriors Limited, says the day also provided an opportunity
for the rugby league public to meet key Warriors players and staff. “As we move forward we want to maximise every
opportunity to introduce the club to the public. The support we have received from fans already has been hugely
encouraging and we are aiming to build on this with initiatives such as the trial day.”
Watson says ten NRL players, including Stephen Matthews from the Maori World Cup squad, Ian Dunneman from the North
Queensland Cowboys and Mark Tookey, Jason Death and Awen Guttenbeil from the New Zealand Warriors will be involved in
the day and be available to meet spectators.
All players wishing to trial are asked to assemble at 10.00am at the Mount Albert Rugby League Club, Fowlds Park, Mount
Albert. All trialists will be required to wear a mouth guard during games.