General 2023 Membership

[Dixpat]

Warriors rorted by NRL clubs: only nine games in Auckland in 2023

OPINION: In a major letdown, NRL clubs fail to commit to bringing other games to NZ, forcing the Warriors to spread the love, writes Steve Kilgallon.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[zaggo]

I'm not even surprised, just disappointed.

What happened to CGs phone running hot? What happened to all those clubs and media pundits saying we should get a few more home games?

Instead we get fewer Mt Smart games than ever before. Absolute kick in the guts for us loyal fans.

 

[Makasene]

Surely the NRL could at least give us the magic round as an away game for a change

Teams are incentivised if they opt to be a home team

Sadly, we need the cash

 

[Cces]

Instead we get fewer Mt Smart games than ever before. Absolute kick in the guts for us loyal fans.

Just 9 games were scheduled at Mt Smart in 2020 too with Eden Park & Wellington meant to host games

 

[playdaball]

Unless there is a major $$ incentive in place, no idea why Eden Park comes into the frame?

 

[TheMorningEmu]

Unless there is a major $$ incentive in place, no idea why Eden Park comes into the frame?

I may be remembering it wrong but was that not going to be a double header between us and the Raiders, followed by the Blues vs the Brumbies?

 

[Dixpat]

I may be remembering it wrong but was that not going to be a double header between us and the Raiders, followed by the Blues vs the Brumbies?

Yes, R1 of the Covid 19 year

 

[Billyspleen75]

Yes, R1 of the Covid 19 year

Round 2 was to be the double header. The team was in Aus for Round 1 when the covid news struck. We played Canberra in Aus instead before the comp shut down

 

[Billyspleen75]

I'm not following the "Warriors agreed to it" line I've seen on social media. I'll rant in here rather than engaging with them there

The Warriors only have control of 12 games. There are either cash incentives or an existing agreement for Magic Round. We'd obviously prefer to be an away team from a fan pov, but you cant begrudge the club for chasing the cash.

That leaves 11 left in the Warriors control.

Prior to determining how to set out their remaining 11 home games, the Warriors and their fans have been hearing for the last 2 years how much they had done to keep the game alive and would be rewarded with extra NZ games, a whole season in NZ, a magic round in Auckland, 3 points per win etc. etc.
This was going to be amazing. 11 games at MSS, another 5+ games around the country. League everywhere.

Now that push has come to shove, the Warriors now know that the Aussies were full of shit.

Not many, if any other clubs are going to bring their home games to NZ. The fans in Dunedin that had high hopes of an NRL match in their city? Tough Shit. The fans in Christchurch that had their hopes up? Tough Shit. Hamilton? Wellington? The thousands of fans within driving distance of these cities? Tough Shit.

To his credit (for once) Cameron George has been pressuring every club and the NRL, both privately and in the media, asking for something.. anything.. for 2023.
They've all said "yeah, nah, thanks though"

So what should the Warriors do knowing that? Keep 11 games at MSS and say tough shit to their fans around NZ too?

No. It looks like the Warriors are doing it all by themselves and taking a game to (likely) Wellington and Christchurch.

MSS is still getting 9 games. As someone else pointed out, its the same number we were getting in 2020. But to ensure the MS Faithful aren't getting a rough deal, members only have to pay for 3. Other clubs/codes have also been through covid and aren't giving such a substantial rollover.

So the Warriors did not agree to play Zero away games around NZ in 2023. They did not agree to reignite the game in NZ all by themselves.
There are many things our club does terribly, but this isn't one of them. The Warriors have been served a shit sandwich by the NRL and are doing their best to not completely disappoint the Warriors fans outside of Auckland.

 

[snake77]

It would be good for the club to explain what is up with this.

The narrative by the club was Robinson was pouring money into the club during covid to save us...

But the Steve Deane article recently had Abdo saying they kept the club afloat during covid and implying that was their way and the extent of supporting us through covid / and why we weren't getting extra games.

The truth would be somewhere in the middle with Robinson and Abdo. Both will be making statements so they look good or a bit of diplomacy to the other party.

The club has mentioned the NRL has been helping them out. That was mainly logistics but there has been some hints about financial as well. It wouldn't be enough to cover the hit the club has taken the last few years. Not just financially but overall - juniour development, supporter base.

Robinson has probably also put in money which he may not have intended (insert Lodge joke here) for or wanted to spend somewhere else like junior development.

The club moving home games must be a financial reason. To get a larger crowd at another city. A bit tough with the club being away and the paid members missing out the last few years. The club being back home Mt Smart would be well attended. Winning helps to so do that.

If they say its to help rebuild the game its a bit of a kick in the guts. As it shouldn't be up to the club to move its home games. We should be getting other clubs bringing games here to help rebuild the game here. They all take NZ players. Also as a thank you for the club being stuck in Australia for 3 years.

Magic Round in New Zealand would of been a good start to help get more league back in New Zealand.

 

[mrblonde]

I wouldn’t put it past the NRL that it’s up to the Warriors to let the game grow in NZ.

Maybe the NRL know full well growing the game in New Zealand is going to be damn near impossible, so don't want to waste their money? It's Auckland or bust. Or Semi-Bust or bust, in other words.

 

[wizards rage]

I think when it’s underway next year, 9 games is probably enough for Mt Smart. We all want more but to many and it looses its appeal and the fan numbers drop away. To much of a good thing.

Extra games would be better spread around NZ, hosted by other Aussie clubs as their home games. Grows the game here, repays NZ for the Warriors commitment and the Aussie club gets a full house moneymaker event that’s not at the Warriors fortress.

They have done it before for the cash prior to covid, so now would be the perfect time for a handful to earn some goodwill.

 

[Diesel]

With all the BS lip service from other clubs & the NRL, I hope the club uses this as motivation. In 2023 it’s against the other 16 clubs + the NRL, we already have a rivalry with the Dolphins before a ball is kicked

 

[Cces]

If anyone should volunteer to host us in NZ it should be the Dolphins. I know they didn't collect any of the gate takings from our games played at Morton Daily Stadium but they've definitely profited from our presence there

 

[snake77]

I wouldn't be surprised if we get the bye round 1 next year as well.

 

[matiunz]

I wouldn't be surprised if we get the bye round 1 next year as well.

Followed by back to back away games

 

[Horriors2013]

I'm not following the "Warriors agreed to it" line I've seen on social media. I'll rant in here rather than engaging with them there

The Warriors only have control of 12 games. There are either cash incentives or an existing agreement for Magic Round. We'd obviously prefer to be an away team from a fan pov, but you cant begrudge the club for chasing the cash.

That leaves 11 left in the Warriors control.

Prior to determining how to set out their remaining 11 home games, the Warriors and their fans have been hearing for the last 2 years how much they had done to keep the game alive and would be rewarded with extra NZ games, a whole season in NZ, a magic round in Auckland, 3 points per win etc. etc.
This was going to be amazing. 11 games at MSS, another 5+ games around the country. League everywhere.

Now that push has come to shove, the Warriors now know that the Aussies were full of shit.

Not many, if any other clubs are going to bring their home games to NZ. The fans in Dunedin that had high hopes of an NRL match in their city? Tough Shit. The fans in Christchurch that had their hopes up? Tough Shit. Hamilton? Wellington? The thousands of fans within driving distance of these cities? Tough Shit.

To his credit (for once) Cameron George has been pressuring every club and the NRL, both privately and in the media, asking for something.. anything.. for 2023.
They've all said "yeah, nah, thanks though"

So what should the Warriors do knowing that? Keep 11 games at MSS and say tough shit to their fans around NZ too?

No. It looks like the Warriors are doing it all by themselves and taking a game to (likely) Wellington and Christchurch.

MSS is still getting 9 games. As someone else pointed out, its the same number we were getting in 2020. But to ensure the MS Faithful aren't getting a rough deal, members only have to pay for 3. Other clubs/codes have also been through covid and aren't giving such a substantial rollover.

So the Warriors did not agree to play Zero away games around NZ in 2023. They did not agree to reignite the game in NZ all by themselves.
There are many things our club does terribly, but this isn't one of them. The Warriors have been served a shit sandwich by the NRL and are doing their best to not completely disappoint the Warriors fans outside of Auckland.

We should pull out. Focus on a national comp. They've made it clear we're just a tool. We're gaining nothing in this comp.

 

[Horriors2013]

Warriors rorted by NRL clubs: only nine games in Auckland in 2023

OPINION: In a major letdown, NRL clubs fail to commit to bringing other games to NZ, forcing the Warriors to spread the love, writes Steve Kilgallon.

www.stuff.co.nz

He's a drop nuts. We need to threaten to leave. It adds more weight to the accusation that the NRL doesn't want us to succeed. Well, leave and see if their arses move for us. The game in NZ has not improved since 1995. It's gone backwards. We're not getting anything out of it. Put effort into a national comp. All people do is complain about the club.

 

[Jay M]

Followed by back to back away games

with one being against the bunnies in Perth and one being in Townsville? In March while it's still hot? 😉

 

[snake77]

with one being against the bunnies in Perth and one being in Townsville? In March while it's still hot? 😉

That 2018 season opener against the Bunnies in Perth was great. We have a poor record in round 1, its an away game, plus travelling to Perth. The marketing people were probably thinking this will give the Bunnies a good win in round 1 so they look good and we can hype them for their upcoming games. What could possibly go wrong.