A large crew of hard core South Island Warriors fans, boarded a special Air New Zealand charter flight in Christchurch this morning, so they could cheer on their team against the Dolphins in the qualifying game in Auckland.
The Christchurch Airport departure lounge rang with chants of "Oooo ahh, up the Wahs" as fans waited to board the aptly named Wahs Express.
One mega fan had only booked her flight the night before. "I'm scared, I'm scared for the game, but I'm excited, super excited," she said.
Broadcaster Lana Searle, who hosted the flight, said the nerves were real. "I feel like I woke up and I was going to get named in the team, that's how nervous I feel."
Another fan had decided to brave his fear of flying for the occasion. "I'm really nervous about the flight and really nervous about the game, but I don't fly well, so there's a whole lotta nerves... can't miss it eh?"
League legend Awen Guttenbeil was also on the flight. "When a team's winning, everyone wants a piece of it," he said.
"I'm confident the boys will get the job done, but finals footy, anything can happen, and the Dolphins are a very good team."
Hardcore fans boarded the "Wahs Express" from Christchurch this morning, saying the turnout proves the Warriors are "not just the Auckland Warriors" but the whole country's team. (Source: 1News)
Searle said there was a reason the charter flight had proven so popular in the south.
"They aren't just the Auckland Warriors, they're the New Zealand Warriors, and this just proves that. There's a collective feeling across the country that they're our team."
Disembarking in Auckland, one passenger described the flight as amazing. "Everybody's bouncing, it was awesome."
Another South Islander arriving said the team meant more than just the game itself. "These guys, whether it's a league game for 80 minutes a week, are giving people something to dream for."
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