EVERYTHING is falling into place for the Kiwis international rugby league debut at Toll Stadium today, much to the delight of organisers, ahead of the 4pm kick off.
With local lad Adam Blair set to start for the Kiwis, predicted fine weather and a near capacity crowd, Northlanders are infor an entertaining afternoon in Whangarei as the Kiwis host Samoa for their Four Nations clash.
Venues and Events Whangarei manager John Lynch said today's match was likely to be reminiscent of the 2011 Rugby World Cup which saw sell-out crowds at Toll Stadium.
"This puts us back on the world stage," Lynch told the Advocate, adding the event will bring $3.8 million to the Northland economy. "The event gets televised throughout the UK and around the Islands and in Australia, so it's good for Whangarei.
"Ticket sales have gone nuts this week, down at Forum North my guys have continually been selling tickets. I'd be surprised if we don't get a full-house.
"It'll be like the Rugby World Cup, chocka and full of noise."
Lynch expected seas of black and blue at the Stadium, saying there were rumours around buses travelling up from Auckland - with some saying 10 buses were coming from just one community.
Today's match is the first time since 2012 the Kiwis have played in New Zealand, something Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney says has been a motivation for the team.
"We don't get an opportunity to play in front of our people often enough and that in itself means a great deal to the players.
"They feel a sense of responsibility and making sure we put our best performance forward," Kearney said.
The Kiwis are hot favourites going into the match after doing a 30-12 demolition job on the Australians last weekend.
Blair was a workhorse in the win over the Kangaroos, playing 56 minutes and getting through 10 hit-ups and 29 tackles, the third highest behind Simon Mannering (30) and Kevin Proctor (31).
The Samoan camp were expecting a physical battle with a Kiwi-side who are likely to be full of confidence. Coach Matt Parish felt there were threats all over the park in the Kiwi side, saying his team will have plenty of work to do if they are to cause an upset.
"They are very, very good halves and their forward pack is big and mobile and got offloads in them and footwork, and young [Jason] Tamualolo has added another dimension to their pack," Parish said.
"Then you have got guys like Issac Luke coming out of dummy half, he is as good a number nine as anyone in the world. We have certainly got our hands full."
