Young fan honours dad's memory

Dion Tahau gets an encouraging hand from Warriors captain Simon Mannering. Photo / Dean Purcell

Dion Tahau, looking shy but brave, was back at the Warriors' home ground yesterday - two weeks after his father collapsed and died there.

The 9-year-old travelled from Taupo with his mother Diana and members of his family to be at yesterday's Mt Smart Stadium home game.

He was given the ultimate honour of running out with the game ball alongside team captain Simon Mannering.

Dion had been at the grounds just two weeks ago to watch the team play against South Sydney with his father, Sheldon Tahau.

Mr Tahau felt sick about 15 minutes before the end of the game and got up to leave with his son.

Instead he collapsed and was later pronounced dead.

Team general manager Don Mann said it was touching to have Dion back at the grounds where he had so often come up to watch the games with his dad.

"He was very excited and it was good to see him with a smile on his face," Mann said.

"His family were all proud of him and you could tell that he was out there running out for his dad."

Dion was given a team shirt by star winger Manu Vatuvei - who is injured - and was asked if he would like to be at yesterday's home game, to take the ball game out with the team.

Vatuvei - Mr Tahau's favourite league player - attended his funeral in Taupo, where Mr Tahau was farewelled by hundreds of whanau and friends, including many Warriors' fans and supporters.

The 38-year-old Taupo mechanic and keen fisherman held a season ticket and for the past five years had travelled up to every home game with Dion.

He was buried next to his brother Dion, their mother Maureen Florence's only other child.

Several police officers and security staff who were on hand when Mr Tahau collapsed also attended the game with the family yesterday.