Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Warriors gearing up for sold-out Eden Park cauldron
Sebastian Tan, AAP •  September 16th, 2026 2:47 pm
Warriors | Photo: AAP
Hooker Sam Healey plans to draw inspiration from his rugby league idol to help him handle the pulsating atmosphere of a sold-out Eden Park.
The NRL announced that general-public tickets for Sunday's do-or-die semi-final between the Warriors and Newcastle in Auckland had sold out in less than 48 hours.
It comes after New Zealand were forced to relocate from their traditional home ground for the clash because Eden Park hosts about 25,000 more spectators than Go Media Stadium.
The 50,000-seat venue being full comes after the league was criticised over poor crowd numbers in the first week of finals, although the Warriors had a mostly sold-out attendance for their 26-16 loss to the Dolphins.
James Fisher-Harris wins the Simon Mannering Medal | Sport Nation
Regardless, it's the club's first clash at Eden Park since 2014, and will be a mammoth moment for New Zealand rugby league as the Warriors look to keep alive their hopes of a first premiership.
Healey is yet to play at the venue, but will be wanting to produce similar heroics to his idol Kevin Locke, who made a courageous try-saving tackle on Sydney Roosters centre Michael Jennings at the Fortress in 2013.
"I have played league since I was five or six or something like that, so I always loved the game," Healey said.
"I actually saw him (Locke) in the sheds the other day, and I said to my mum, 'Do you remember when he was my favourite player'. She just started laughing.
"He used to be my lock-screen on my phone ... I just said g'day."
Warriors back-rower Jacob Laban has only played once at the country's biggest sporting stadium.
"It was Kiwi A's versus Tonga A's, I think it was two, three years ago," he said.
Andrew Webster on the Knights challenge at Eden Park | Sport Nation
"(After) New Zealand played Samoa (in the Pacific Championships) ... it was a pretty cool, good atmosphere.
"Obviously it (the crowd) is a little bit further (away) than Mt Smart, but it's not too bad. When you score a try, you can walk up to the fans over there, so it's still pretty close."
Laban won't be intimidated by the history of Eden Park, although the club has won only one of its six games at the venue.
The blond second-rower is intent on not just helping the Warriors set up a preliminary final against Penrith, but also on making his childhood self proud.
"I knew I wanted to play for the Warriors when I first heard about rugby league," Laban said.
"They came to Wellington. I don't know what year it was, but I still have this photo of me where I had half a Warriors face painted on and a Warriors T-shirt.
"I knew I wanted to play for the Warriors since I was young."
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the NZ Warriors all season long - download the app today on Google Play and the App Store.
