The Warriors selling out Mt Smart stadium has become a lot more common in recent months – but to do it five days out from the match has not happened in their 28-year history.
They’ll need every fan in attendance to act as a 24th man when they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night.
Hooker Wade Egan tells The Big League Podcast’s Nathan Limm he’s a big fan of the Mt Smart ‘lunatics’.
“To have it actually sold out a week prior to the game is unbelievable – when we’re winning games it brings people in and everyone gets interested in New Zealand about rugby league, it’s going to be unreal on Friday night.”
Egan recalls last year’s sell-out against the Tigers and is hoping the Mt Smart faithful can bring the same intensity this week.
It was coach Andrew Webster who first described Warriors crowds as lunatics and Egan says his leader has summed it up about right.
“It’s pretty close, yeah, there’s a few lunatics, always a couple of wild ones shouting and screaming at the side of the field – it’s madness down there.”
This will be music to Warriors fans’ ears as most wear their lunacy as a badge of honour – happy to take up the mantle of the NRL’s most-dedicated fanbase.
Egan is quick to remember he’s being interviewed – telling Nathan Limm he probably can’t repeat verbatim the weirdest thing he’s heard yelled from the Mt Smart stands.
“It’s not too many weird things – just a lot of chahoo’ing and people going mad in the crowd, it’s actually awesome to see.”
Egan left the field against the Dragons for an HIA but will start at hooker against the Bunnies. He's already had two concussions this season but is unfazed.
"Obviously you've got to look after your brain, but I haven't had a significant one for quite a while so it's not worrying me too much."
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