Go Media Stadium will be known as Daniel Anderson Stadium when the One New Zealand Warriors host Manly-Warringah in the round dedicated to the club’s former head coach on August 18.
In late May the NRL announced round 25 would be known as the Daniel Anderson Round when the rugby league community will come together to raise critical funds for the ex-One New Zealand Warriors, Parramatta, St Helens and New Zealand coach.
Anderson (56) suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury late last year following a body surfing accident on the New South Wales Central Coast and is in rehabilitation at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Ryde.
Go Media, which recently became naming rights sponsor of Mount Smart Stadium, agreed to renaming the venue Daniel Anderson Stadium for the round 25 match against the Sea Eagles.
Managing director and co-founder Mike Gray said Go Media wanted to do all it could to help the cause.
“As the home of the One New Zealand Warriors, we’re keen to do our bit to support the fundraising effort,” he said.
“What better way to acknowledge Daniel’s contribution to the club than to rename Go Media Stadium in his honour."
What better way to acknowledge Daniel’s contribution to the club than to rename Go Media Stadium in his honour
Mike Gray Go Media managing director
As well as having the stadium renamed, the One New Zealand Warriors have moved the club’s annual old boys’ day to coincide with the match against Manly.
Players from Anderson’s era are expected to gather in support of their former coach. From 2001-2004 he guided the Warriors in 92 matches with a record of 51 wins, two draws and 39 losses. Under his charge the club won the minor premiership and reached its first grand final in 2002 while making the finals for the first time in 2001 and repeating the feat in 2002 and 2003.
“Round 25 is shaping up as a tremendous occasion for the New Zealand rugby league community to wrap around Daniel and the Anderson family,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“Thanks to the support of great partners like Go Media, Daniel Anderson Stadium will be the place to be on Friday 18 August for us to show the family they’re not alone in his journey to recovery.”
In another feature the One New Zealand Warriors will wear the 2003 Throwback jersey, the iconic black and silver strip synonymous with the season when the Warriors went within one win of making the grand final for the second straight year.
