Up the wahs fans. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Warriors fans are ready to watch their team play at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night in one of the most anticipated matches in years.
They will take on the Newcastle Knights at 6pm in the NRL semi-final, in a bid to keep the dream alive.
"Up the Wahs."
It is the catch cry heard all across the land, the team that has ignited a fire in sports fans.
- Live: RNZ will live-blog tonight's Warriors semi-final match just after 6pm.
The tickets for tonight's game sold out in a matter of minutes.
Fan Daniel missed out but he will still be gathering with friends and whānau to watch.
"We [are] going out to the boys to have a barbecue, watch the game. It feels amazing you know, I was born in 1995... Up the Wahs."
Rob also hoped it will be the Warriors' night.
''To have the boys and to have them home to do it after all that time is awesome, it is a sell-out and I am sure we will smash the Knights... easy."
The team also has the confidence of Warriors CEO Cameron George.
"We're excited, you know, it is a big occasion for our footy club, we have worked hard to get here and look, you can't be over confident, but you know, the boys have got to prepare well and we are really looking forward to the opportunity on Saturday."
Fans and supporters at the BlueBet Stadium for the Penrith Panthers v Warriors match in Australia on 9 September, 2023. Photo: Photosport / David Neilson
For Sir Peter Leitch, also known as the Mad Butcher, this is Christmas.
''I used to have three great loves, my family, my business and my Warriors and they are all equal, you know, I love them all as much as I love the other one."
He said the fans have been incredible.
''It's like a big family, mate, to be fair, the fans, let's not underestimate some of the wonderful fans.
"Some people say I am the greatest Warriors fan, I don't like that. I can feel comfortable with the title, the most well-known fan, I can handle that but we have so many wonderful fans."
The side will be buoyed by another sold-out crowd at their home of Mt Smart Stadium.
There was talk of moving the big match to Eden Park - which has a bigger capacity - an idea that was eventually torpedoed.
Tickets to the finals match game sold out in a matter of minutes so Eden Park is holding a free 'Wahs Under the Stars' event for people who were unable to grab a seat.
Chief executive Nick Sautner is encouraging people to come along with a picnic blanket and enjoy the action.
''We knew that there would be huge demand for tickets to the event and Eden Park has a desire to see more league played at the park and we thought this was a great opportunity to get league fans along to our national stadium from 5pm, free access onto the field of play and to watch the Wahs on the big screen."
Sautner is expecting a big turnout.
''We think there will probably up to 5000 people that will come along, tickets are available through Ticketmaster and they are free of charge." he said
Across the ditch, Channel Nine chief commentator Matthew Thompson said Knights and Warriors fans have been excited for weeks.
"After last week's finals it would be impossible if you are a footy fan not to be pumped up.
"It was amazing footy across the weekend and obviously the stakes are high from now on in, elimination finals, the Warriors having finished in the top four for the first time in a long time will be hoping to go through to the grand-final qualifiers."
He expects it to be a close game when the sides kick off at 6.05pm.
