- Two football fans have now signed ‘Champions 2024 Warriors’
- Part of bold radio promotion of The Edge Breakfast show
- The New Zealand Warriors are yet to win an NRL premiership
Two die-hard New Zealand football fans have boldly chosen to get ‘Champions 2024 Warriors’ tattoos to permanently show their support for Andrew Webster’s NRL team.
Local musician Mitch James was a little more cautious, opting for ‘Champions 202 Warriors’ above his ankle – meaning the Wahs have until 2029 to win a first premiership before his new ink looks a little silly.
It was part of a daring radio promotion of The Edge Breakfast, and listener response was mixed.
“People always lead the way when it comes to the Warriors, they always fail when it matters most,” one “supporter” wrote.
Another said: ‘Thanks, you’ve cursed us now.’
Two New Zealand football fans (including Hayley Young, left) have boldly chosen to get ‘Champions 2024 Warriors’ tattoos to permanently show their support for Andrew Webster’s NRL team
Local musician Mitch James chose ‘Champions 202 Warriors’ above his ankle – meaning the Wahs have until 2029 to win a first premiership before his new ink looks a bit silly
Warriors fans and crazy tattoos seem to go hand in hand – last year, betting house TAB NZ provided avid supporters with a permanent reminder that the Warriors could achieve NRL premiership.
As part of the campaign, a temporary ‘salon’ was set up at a shopping center in Auckland, where supporters were given the opportunity to get a mysterious tattoo.
Those brave enough didn’t get a say in the ink choice – they simply stuck their arm through a hole and let the artist – Leroy Roberts – get to work on a design they couldn’t see until it was completed.
A spokesperson for TAB NZ told Daily Mail Australia at the time that the designs included a Warriors Tiki logo, the Warriors logo with a fern, the popular slogan ‘Up The Wahs’, Warriors Est 95 and two Tiki/League player hybrids.
This pop-up tattoo parlor in Auckland gave Warriors fans the chance to get a free and permanent design on their arm ahead of the NRL finals last year
Those brave enough were given no say in the choice of ink – they simply stuck their arm through the hole and let the artist get to work (photo, one of the completed designs)
The Dragons’ Mikaele Ravalawa celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the club’s big win over the Warriors
Unfortunately for the newly tattooed duo, the Warriors suffered a shock loss to the St. George Illawarra Dragons overnight, dealing a minor dent to their premiership aspirations.
Zac Lomax started his St George Illawarra farewell tour in style, starring for the Dragons in an upset 30-12 NRL win over the Warriors.
Days after completing a four-year deal with Parramatta for 2025 and beyond, Lomax was in good touch with the Dragons on Friday after being moved to the centers for the first time this season.
Lomax, until this week mainly used as a winger by Shane Flanagan, scored a try, a two-point field goal from 42 yards and scored four goals.
The win was hailed by Flanagan as the most measured of his tenure to date, with the Dragons withstanding an early onslaught from the Warriors at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium before responding in style.
“It was without a doubt our most complete performance – we only played 80 minutes,” Flanagan said.
‘I was happy with the way we stuck to our guns.
“It was just about confidence, we kept putting them down and Zac made a two-point field goal… Overall it was our best performance of 80 minutes.”