Sideline Sid - Sports blogger Sideline Sid is a local sport fanatic. Not only is he a classic rugby bloke but he has views, opinions and knowledge on all sports played in the Bay of Plenty.

While Sideline Sid likes to stay close to home and follow the sporting action in the Western Bay of Plenty, during the Easter break he mounted an expedition up and over the Bombay Hills to catch the New Zealand Warriors in action at Mount Smart Stadium against Manly.

With a big win over the Brisbane Broncos in their previous NRL game this season, the crowd came in their thousands on Easter Sunday. The Warriors faithful were on hand to support "Their Team" as the Sea Eagles tried to steal the win points on offer.

We were nearly late for the kick-off courtesy of using a map that was 30 years old. If you think that getting in and out of Baypark on a Steamers' big match is a mission, you should try going to a near full house at Mount Smart.

Everything costs at a Warriors match, starting with the organisations that charge to park your car in industrial car parks, within a reasonable distance of the stadium. The next step was a route march to the venue, which in our case meant circumnavigating three quarters of the outside of the stadium to access the correct gate.

We took up our seats in the open stand at the far end of the ground just as the start siren signalled game-on. Sitting just behind the goalposts provided a great view when play was in our end of the ground, however, the two big screens showed all the action when the game was up the other end

The open stand is where the true blue working man (and woman) fan sits, without an opposition supporter in sight. The vast majority of our companions were in this season's replica playing shirt, with hats and flags to match. It is pretty evident that Warriors gear sales play a real part in the finances of the Warriors.

At $180 for an adults shirt, with a new one required each season, there were thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of Warriors clothing worn by the faithful. Once the game starts, there was never a stopping movement of fans back and forward to the food and drink concessions.

While getting in and out of Mount Smart is a mission - it is a real experience to be amongst the passionate Warriors fans. The yells and cheers when the Warriors were in full flight make ear plugs almost a necessity. However, the booing when the opposition takes a kick at goal is in my opinion unsporting.

Watching the game live brings another dimension to rugby league. At the ground the action is just metres away. What you don't see on television is the numbers of players out wide that just walk there way up and down the field waiting for the ball to come their way.
Another distraction is the water carriers who are continuously on the paddock when their team is on attack.

Being at the ground, it was amazing that the game had only seemed to start before the final siren went for full-time. There was plenty of disappointment for the Warriors fans when the final whistle went with the scoreboard telling the tale of the Warriors being defeated 14-6.

While the Warriors were in the game for most of the encounter, in my humble opinion haste cost the team dearly. In the last quarter of an hour the Warriors were hot on attack on several occasions, only to either take the wrong options, or hand the ball over to the opposition. However, next week brings another game, with all the hopes of victory for the loyal Warriors fans.

Seeya at the Game.