League: Warriors players train next generation of leaguies at Whangārei Boys' High

From left Warriors Women's team and Kiwi Fern player Georgia Hale, centre Taane Milne, second rower Eliesa Katoa, prop Jackson Frei and trainer Mark Harvey at Whangārei Boys' High School yesterday.

Budding rugby league players from Whangārei Boys' High School have had a first hand look at what it takes to make it as a professional player after members of the NZ Warriors visited the school.

Yesterday Warriors NRL players Taane Milne, Jackson Frei and Eliesa Katou visited the school to do training sessions with 30 of the school's rugby league players.

Accompanying the players was fitness trainer Mark Harvey, who has the job of getting the Warriors prepared for the new NRL season.

Unfortunately Whangārei Boys' High School old boy and Warriors and Kiwis forward Adam Blair could not make it to the school for the session.

It was a slight disappointment for the youngsters, but they got plenty from their training session, which the school's teacher in charge of rugby league and assistant principal Kamaka Manuel said gave them a good idea of what it takes to be a sporting professional.

Whangārei Boys' High students performed a powerful haka for NZ Warriors' squad members and trainers who went to the school yesterday. Photo / Michael Cunningham

''It's great for the boys to see the Warriors players coming into the school and show them what it takes to make it in their sport. Having that extra connection of two of our old boys in the squad — Adam Blair and Paul Turner - makes it even more special,'' Manuel said.

''The students will really benefit form this experience - here are examples of what can happen if you work hard and show commitment. It's a really positive visit to the school and the students will learn a lot from it.''

Whangārei Boys' High students Kian Kake and Riki Shelford get fitness training tips from NZ Warriors' squad members and trainers at the school yesterday. Photo / Michael Cunningham.

He acknowledged that while the students were excited by the visit, some of the staff, and several other old boys who turned up for the event, were equally keen to see the Warriors' players.

Blair's absence was huge, but the player himself may have been worried about being called into the principal's office...again.

Boys' High Principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said in recent weeks some of the school's offices were being tidied up and in one an old plastic bag was found.

Inside were items that had been confiscated from students in the past - and one of them was a necklace that had been confiscated from Blair while he was at the school, but not picked up again.

This necklace confiscated from Warriors forward Adam Blair, when he was a pupil at Whangārei Boys' High School was uncovered recently when an office was being cleared.

Gilbert-Smith said she had hoped it could be given back to Blair at the school yesterday.

A spokesperson for the Warriors said it was unfortunate Blair could not make it up yesterday, but he would definitely be at his old primary school - Te Kura o Ōtangarei - today, where he and some teammates will give the kids branded raincoats.

All 93 kids at the decile one school will receive a free raincoat as part of KidsCan's
"Raincoats for Kids" programme. The school has been supported by KidsCan since 2012.

The Warriors will visit 13 schools over three days to raise the profile of league in Northland, ahead of their game against the West Tigers at Northland Events Centre, Whangārei, on Saturday.

Hundreds of kids from Northland league clubs will also attend the Club Cluster event featuring skills and drills sessions with the entire Warriors squad at Northland Events Centre on Thursday.

The Warriors will host a captain's run at the Northland Events Centre on Friday, March 1, from 10am to noon that is open to the public. Players will also be available to fans straight after the main game on the field on game day. The game kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.