New Zealand NRL boss Cameron George predicts more fans will watch Warriors’ final against Penrith than All Blacks

A stunning sport power shift is tipped to be confirmed in New Zealand this weekend when the Warriors play an NRL final on the same day as a World Cup match featuring the All Blacks.

New Zealand is getting behind the resurgent Warriors.

Australia has the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops the nation.

New Zealand has the Warriors, the rugby league team that stops the nation.

In a stunning indication of the Warriors impact across the ditch, club CEO Cameron George has boldly declared the club’s qualifying final clash with Penrith on Saturday will attract more TV viewers than the All Blacks opening World Cup match on the same day.

“The movement in this country towards the Warriors is unbelievable,” George said.

“It’s hard to explain without you guys being here (in New Zealand), but it is like nothing this country has seen before.

“The Melbourne Cup stops the nation in Australia. Well, I’m telling you, this Warriors-Penrith semi-final will stop New Zealand at 6pm (NZ time) on Saturday.

“The NRL and the broadcasters have made an unbelievable decision that is going to help the game no-end in New Zealand with that earlier timeslot this week.

“This weekend the All Blacks are playing (against France) at 6am on Saturday in their first World Cup match.

“I have no doubt our game at 6pm Saturday night will beat the All Blacks World Cup match.”

Warriors fans are embracing the ‘Wahs’ effect.

UP THE WAHS

The immense popularity of the Warriors in Auckland is part of the daily news cycle in New Zealand. An entire train was recently graffitied with the Warriors catch-cry “Up The Wahs.”

It led to a news report of how the public have campaigned to Auckland Transport - operators of the train network - that the graffiti remains on the train instead of being cleaned and removed.

George also declared the club’s merchandise sales had broken all records with an increase of 200 per cent on last year, to the point that they have run out of stock.

“You can’t buy a jersey unless you’re a small or extra small,’’ George said.

“I’m even going to the retail stores trying to get stuff. I went to Rebel in Brisbane and there was little or nothing there.

“We’ve never seen any of this before. It is unbelievable what is happening over here.’’

Sean Johnson takes a selfie with New Zealand fans.

HOME TIME

The Warriors are aiming to beat Penrith at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday, which would propel them to an unfathomable preliminary final at Mt Smart Stadium in two weeks’ time.

A loss against the Panthers would mean the Warriors play next weekend in a do-or-die semi-final at Mt Smart Stadium.

Either way, George said it was his gut feel that the NRL would stick to the same 4pm (AEST time), which is 6pm in New Zealand, in order to maximise TV viewership.

“I don’t see that changing moving forward,’’ George said.

“They’ve (NRL) obviously made that decision for the New Zealand viewers.

“Us (Warriors) kicking-off at the later time of 7.50pm in Australia (9.50pm NZ), we’d lose so many viewers in New Zealand.

“But I rang (NRL head of football) Graham Annesley and (NRL general manager) Jaymes Boland-Rudder on Monday to thank them for their common sense.’’

New Zealand is loving the ‘Wahs’ and their rise up the NRL table.

PRIVATE JET

The Warriors are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of the club‘s historic-first premiership.

After being delayed for six hours on a commercial airline last weekend, the Warriors have hired a private jet to transport the entire team and staff to Sydney for their clash with Penrith.

They will arrive on Thursday and depart BlueBet Stadium immediately after the match and fly home to Auckland on Saturday night in a bid to aid their recovery time.

“We’ve had about three or four different scenarios on the table. Andrew Webster (head coach), Mark Robinson (Warriors owner) and I had a chat about three weeks ago,’’ George said.

“We spoke about how we best make our travel as efficient as possible for us over the finals?

“We‘re just trying to find ways that at least reduce that commercial impact that those flights have.

The Warriors went from the bottom four to top four during a resurgent campaign.

“Win, lose or draw we‘re leaving on Saturday night. So that gives us a chance to be back home for an extra day.’’

Asked if he expected a large contingent of Warriors fans at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday, George replied: “I’ve heard alot want to fly over and there will also be a huge presence of expat Warriors fans.

“I think everyone is counting on this next game being in New Zealand, whether it‘s one week or two weeks.

“It will be huge.”

Originally published as New Zealand NRL boss Cameron George predicts more fans will watch Warriors’ final against Penrith than All Blacks