Warriors prepare for school visits

Jerome Ropati. FILE

Club greats Jerome Ropati and Ruben Wiki will spearhead a Vodafone Warriors delegation on a two-day blitz meeting close to 5000 pupils at 12 schools in Rotorua tomorrow and on Friday.

Ropati, just appointed as an NRL Community ambassador, and former team-mate Wiki, the NRL team's rehab coach, arrive in the Geyser City tonight for a community and promotional visit ahead of the Vodafone Warriors' NRL trial against the Penrith Panthers at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday.

Before romance meets rugby league, Ropati, Wiki and Vodafone Warriors community relations manager Petrece Kesha are joined by Glen Fisiiahi, Charlie Gubb and Siliva Havili from the club's NRL squad for a series of community activities.

Split into two teams of three, the Vodafone Warriors' advance guard will visit six schools tomorrow and another six on Friday in an intensive community initiative before the club's NRL players and coaching staff arrive on Friday to prepare for the trial.

As well as visiting schools, the Vodafone Warriors will be involved in other activities including an appearance at the Rotorua Night Market tomorrow, attending the Wai-Coa-Bay Nines on Friday night (which also run on Saturday) and supporting club sponsor Wendy's by making an in-store appearance at its Rotorua site on Fairy Springs Rd.

The Vodafone Warriors' activities in Rotorua are among the first events in the NRL's 2015 Community Carnival; the carnival was launched in Australia last week by Olympic great Cathy Freeman and another new NRL Community ambassador Anthony Minichiello.

The Vodafone Warriors' community activities in Rotorua will heighten awareness of what will be the club's most important trial heading into the 2015 NRL season.

Head coach Andrew McFadden has named an experienced side for the hit-out against Penrith.

As they did against Gold Coast in Toowoomba on Saturday night, the Vodafone Warriors will wear the 'Zion' training kit for the Rotorua trial.