Almost 50,000 packed Suncorp Stadium for the Warriors' Magic Round win over the Cowboys. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport
Warriors v Dolphins
Kickoff 5pm Saturday, 17 May
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Almost a month since they last played at their Mt Smart spiritual home, NZ Warriors head back across the Tasman to face the Dolphins at the now-friendly confines of Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The Auckland-based NRL outfit last ran out at Go Media Stadium against - ironically - Brisbane Broncos on 19 April and will finally return next week, when they host Canberra Raiders.
In the meantime, they have taken a 'home' game to Christchurch, another to Brisbane for 'Magic Round' against North Queensland Cowboys and then travelled to Wollongong against St George Illawarra Dragons.
Consecutive Magic Round successes, where they were buoyed by surprisingly parochial support, has transformed Suncorp Stadium from an intimidating fortress to a 'home away from home' for the visiting Warriors.
"Just how many times we play there," coach Andrew Webster said explaining why they're so popular. "We take our home game to Magic Round, so that means we play more, and we're scheduled to play the Broncos and Dolphins away there this year - that's a lot of footy.
"We've had mixed results in the last couple of years, but I think the boys enjoy going there. We train really well when we're there, we get there a day early and enjoy the trip."
Results on the Suncorp scoreboard haven't been flash for the Warriors - they are 4-10 there, since the Broncos moved from ANZ Stadium in 2003. They are 0-2 there against the Dolphins, since the expansion team joined the competition in 2023, and 3-3 at Magic Round since 2019.
They have won only two of their last eight visits to the ground, shocking defending champions Penrith Panthers with an understrength line-up at Magic Round last year and showing tremendous grit to hold off the fast-finishing Cowboys at this year's edition.
The Warriors have always enjoyed their biggest regular season crowds at the 52,000-capacity venue, which was previously known as Lang Park and built on the former North Brisbane Cemetery. On their first visit there after Covid, 52,273 attended their 2023 loss to the Broncos, while their Magic Round loss to Penrith Panthers that same year also attracted more than 50,000.
They have a three-year contract to take home games to Magic Round, which has helped build local support for the team.
They were also based at Redcliffe - just north of Brisbane - during the Covid 19 pandemic and formed a close bond with the local fanbase, which may be tested, when they face the Dolphins, who have their roots in the same seaside suburb.
"I've played there a few times with us doing well and it definitely did feel like a home game back then," said winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who missed the Cowboys fixture through injury.
"The boys were talking about Magic Round and how, out of the whole weekend, our fans were the loudest. It was quite cool to see them all turn out.
"You hear we're a lot of fans' second team, and that comes from the sacrifice that the club did throughout Covid and keeping the game alive. We travelled a lot, so we did some work in each area we were, and when you do stuff like that, you create fans.
"Being on the road and feeling like you're at home is incredible. Last year and 2023, there were some road games that we were getting cheered out and the other team was getting booed out."
Warriors fans were reportedly louder than any others at Magic Round. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport
Warriors lock Erin Clark has seen the love affair from the other side, after playing 94 games for nearby Gold Coast Titans.
"I lived in Queensland for five years and you could see how many Kiwis were there for better lives, but still supporting the team over there," he said. "I've got mates, lifelong friends over there who still support the Warriors.
"You can see what they're building and it's credit to the club, not just the players, but the whole organisation. We go away to Brisbane, we have signing sessions, we keep the fans amongst it.
"It's definitely cool playing to a packed-out Suncorp with Warriors fans. I think one of my mates has booked out a corporate box, just to come watch me play, so that's pretty cool."
Given the string of road games, the team considered staying across the ditch, rather than crossing backwards and forwards each week, but Webster was satisfied with the convoluted travel schedule.
"We always thought about the opportunity of staying over, but we felt it hasn't really worked that well for us in the past," he said. "We've got decent turnarounds between them - they're not six days or five days - so we wanted to get home to our families and get some energy back, with a day off over here."
Watene-Zelezniak admitted road trips like these were an opportunity for players to focus solely on game preparation.
"To be honest, a lot of the boys have kids, so when we go on an away trip, for me, it's straight to the hotel and a nap straight away," he said. "It's actually quite good to catch up, recharge the batteries and play, but once you get back home, it's back to the kids, give my wife a break and back into dad mode.
"We definitely speak about the opportunities to bond as a team and connect. My first trip away was last week, and it was definitely cool to be on the road again with the boys and catching up on some sleep."
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