Player farewells loyal Warriors fan

Sheldon Tahau. Photo / Supplied

As the Warriors prepared for their game against the Tigers in Sydney yesterday, injured player Manu Vatuvei was in Taupo farewelling one of his most loyal fans.

Sheldon Tahau collapsed and died at Mt Smart Stadium during the NRL win over South Sydney on Sunday with his 9-year-old son Dion by his side.

The 38-year-old Taupo mechanic and keen fisherman, a season pass holder, had for the past five years travelled with Dion to Auckland for all the home games.

With about 15 minutes left on the clock, Mr Tahau started feeling unwell and got up out of his seat. He walked a short while with his son before falling to the ground. Security staff at the game raised the alarm.

Last night, Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said that young Dion was taken to an office at the stadium where skipper Simon Mannering and forward Micheal Luck sat with him for about three hours while he waited for his mother to arrive from Taupo to collect him.

"We had some players spend some time and comfort Dion as much as they could ... trying to not talk too much about what had just happened, asking who he supported - the caterers brought him some food and a hot chocolate - just doing the best under pretty difficult circumstances."

Mr Scurrah said Dion told the players Vatuvei was his dad's favourite.

The 24-year-old, who is out with a hamstring injury, attended Mr Tahau's funeral in Taupo with Mr Scurrah and Warriors general manager Don Mann.

"I certainly think Manu's presence helped him [Dion] immensely," Mr Scurrah said.

"[Sheldon Tahau] was probably a face that we would have walked past on a number of occasions.

"The other great thing was the number of members who turned up at the funeral, other members of the club who had seen him at games or didn't know him but just wanted to pay their respects."

Funeral director Barry McIntosh, a friend of the family, said more than 250 people were at the service. Some wore Warriors shirts.

Mr Tahau was buried next to his brother Dion, the only other child of their mother, Maureen Florence.