Sir Peter Leitch’s Mad Butcher Club AT MT SMART STADIUM, HOME OF THE MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS 28 May 2015 Newsletter #74a To subscribe or unsubscribe email: [email protected] am as Gates Open Early For it all started at Otahahu, and by Iexcited as a Triple-Header the time his outstanding playing dog with two career was over – here, in Austral- tails because my beloved Vodafone The gates open for what will be ia and England -he’d clocked up 29 Warriors are back at our home a triple-header, at 11am in time tests, captaining 18 of them. on Sunday for the first time since for the 11.45am kick-off in the Anzac Day. NSW Cup game, with the NYC In 1995 he was one of the initial Vodafone Warriors taking the field inductees of the NZRL Legends When I say at home, that’s Mt at 1.40pm, and the NRL game of League, and a year later he was Smart for all you ning-nongs at kicking off at 4pm. I’m hoping we inducted into the New Zealand Auckland City who want us out. will be done and dusted by 6pm, Sports Hall of Fame. Our opponents are the Newcas- with six points from two each in tle Knights and something very all three games. If there is a league great bigger in special about this weekend is that our history, I don’t know who it is. it is the Women in League round, League Lunch Will Be where the club celebrates the role Biggest Ever of women in our great game. And there is still time to get tickets Every time I go to Mt Smart I am to my Kiwis Long League Lunch. blown away by how many female It’s going to be epic. We are going supporters the club has, and of into it with the Kiwis No 1 in the course then there are the legions world, and with South Auckland of women who do everything Legend of League Mark Graham from wash strips to putting them confirmed as our speaker. on and actually playing them- We need you at our kiwis long selves. More than 50 former Kiwis are in, luncheon. but it is not restricted in any way, It is not overstating anything to the public are welcome, so visit Manu And Sam Back say that without the huge number www.sirpeterleitch.co.nz for all the of hours women give to our game, details. Manu Vatuvei and Sam Tom- it would grind to a halt. kins are in line to return for the Mark Graham is a former coach Vodafone Warriors clash against I am so excited because it will also of the Vodafone Warriors, and Newcastle at Mt Smart on Sunday be our chance to win three on the captain of the Kiwis, and was (4pm kick-off). trot after our last two get out of actually named the greatest player jail last minute wins against the the country produced from 1907 Both are available for selection for Sharks and then the Eels. to 2006. our first home game since the An- Supporting the Warriors is never zac Day contest against the Titans. dull. I’m really looking forward to hear- ing what he has to say, because Continued on next page... Vatuvei has scored seven tries in Girl Power To The Fore League match is about, recognis- nine games so far, but was forced ing the strength of women within off with a sternum injury against The Vodafone Warriors have en- league and across society. Cronulla. He had hoped to return listed #GirlPower for the Women against Parramatta but was ruled in League NRL clash against the It’s about standing up against out. Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart discrimination, breaking down Stadium on Sunday at 4pm. stereotypes and stigmas. The last of Tomkins’ two appear- ances was in the 29-16 third- Mothers, partners, players, foot- #GirlPower also symbolises the round win over Parramatta in ball staff, administrators, members power of the club’s growing female March. and fans have been major contrib- supporter base. utors to the Warriors since they After the 32-28 loss to the Titans, first appeared in 1995. The Vodafone Warriors would the Warriors have rebounded with like to thank all female members 20-16 and 17-13 away wins over To pay homage to them in the and fans for their support and Cronulla and Parramatta, while club’s 20th anniversary season, the challenges them to turn out in big also collecting two points from the Warriors will wear the Canter- numbers on May 31. bye to sit seventh. bury -designed Supernova jersey against the Knights, the first home Women who are involved in and While Vatuvei and Tomkins are game at Mt Smart Stadium since support league are the real warri- poised to make their comebacks, Anzac Day. ors. Glen Fisiiahi (knee) and David Fusitu’a (groin) are on track to be That means it’s also time for mem- All members and fans on Twitter, available a week later. bers and fans to don pink wigs, Facebook or Instagram can now flags and scarves as well as past join the campaign by using the The Vodafone Warriors’ NRL side Women in League jerseys or the #GirlPower hashtag to show their will be in Perth that weekend to 2015 Supernova model - buy now support for the Vodafone Warriors face Souths, while the club’s New www.warriorsstore.co.nz. and to help to give the team an South Wales Cup side is at home edge against the Knights. to Canterbury-Bankstown. The club invited the SkyCity Mys- tics to launch the #GirlPower cam- Buy a #girlpower ticket combo Buy tickets now | paign with a league meets netball Warriors v Newcastle event last week that turned into a riotous cross codes promotion as I’m Off To The Movies Team: the NRL and ANZ Championship 1 Sam Tomkins players were brought together. Me and Janice, and my daughter 2 Jonathan Wright Julie and her boy Matthew are all 3 Tuimoala Lolohea The Vodafone Warriors had eight off to the movies on Friday night 4 Solomone Kata players with a real passion for – and yes we paid forthe tickets. 5 Manu Vatuvei basketball. Man of the moment We are going to see the #girlpow- 6 Chad Townsend Bodene Thompson was joined by er Pitch Perfect 2, the follow-up 7 Shaun Johnson Konrad Hurrell, Tuimoala Lolo- to the original hit about a group 8 Jacob Lillyman hea, Solomone Kata, Sam Lisone, of misfits with only one thing in 9 Nathan Friend Albert Vete, David Fusitu’a and common - the way they sound 10 Ben Matulino Raymond Faitala-Mariner. when they’re mixed together and 11 Bodene Thompson arranged like never before. 12 Ryan Hoffman The Mystics, who earlier trained 13 Simon Mannering (C) in the gym, featured captain Maria You can join in too. Interchange: Tutaia, Catherine Latu, Kayla Cul- 14 Siliva Havili len and Serena Guthrie. 15 Sebastine Ikahihifo Continued on next page... 16 Sam Lisone The hashtag #GirlPower captures 17 Albert Vete the essence of what the Women in Mad Butcher Club Newsletter Page 2 Continued from previous page... for Marist Western Suburbs in Christchurch, the club his father Smith said the NRL had worked to Grab your girls (and guys) and coached to two grand finals before try to help the club avoid breach- join the Vodafone Warriors on moving North to coach. ing the caps. The club had been Friday at the SkyCity Theatre to given multiple warnings, but did celebrate our Women in League Gold Coast Date Set not take sufficient steps to address round and help us raise funds for non-compliance. Breast Cancer, where the ultimate The Vodafone Warriors are hold- goal is to find a cure, not just with- ing a function post-match in the He said the NRL generally im- in our lifetime, but by 2018. Gold Coast. For members, I’m posed a fine commensurate with heading over for that game on the level of the breach, but the It’s being supported by SkyCity, Saturday, June 6, when we take on club faced an additional penalty, Universal and Paramount Pic- the Titans. Mark Tookey, Kevin taking the total to $525,000, for tures, Ticketek and the Warriors, Campion and Grant Young have failing to take action despite the whose support ensures every cent already been contacted in regards warnings. goes to Breast Cancer Cure! to coming along, so it should be a good night. He said the Eels governance had The doors open at 6.30pm and failed but he acknowledged steps the movie starts at 7pm sharp. It The function will take place in were being taken to improve sys- will be a great night, an awesome the Bond University Institute tems, and the club had until Feb- movie and everyone gets a special next door to Cbus between 7.30- ruary next year to undergo review Vodafone Warriors Goodie Bag to 9.30pm and the whole team will and implement changes. take home. Tickets are only $10. be there for signing session and Just go to Ticketek to book. photographs. If the club fails to satisfy the conditions it will start the 2016 Eels In Hot Water Premiership on minus four points. You will all have heard by now “The salary cap is one of the rea- that the Parramatta Eels are facing sons we have the closest sporting a $525,000 fine for salary cap competition in Australia,” Smith breaches last year.