Vodafone Warriors break up for Christmas

Happiness for the Vodafone Warriors ... the NRL squad together at Cornwall Park today after being given the all-clear for their Christmas-New Year break.

The last training day of the year wasn't due to end until late in the afternoon following a strength session and then a pool session in Panmure.

But after this morning's field work and recovery at Cornwall Park, the players were elated when they were rewarded with the 'you're free to go' message ... (Christmas) music to their ears after a gruelling seven-week off-season block which started at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health on November 5.

New head coach Matthew Elliott and the new-look football department have been working with a squad of 38 players, boosted by new signing Harry Siejka, who joined the club two weeks ago. Also included in the squad are four players on off-season training contracts and four players still eligible for the Vodafone Junior Warriors next season.

The Vodafone Warriors will be back training on Thursday, January 3 next year, beginning the preseason countdown to their three trials in February.

After the first trial against the Gold Coast Titans at Burleigh Heads on February 9, there are two trials in New Zealand. The first is against Penrith at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on February 16 (the first there since 2009) while the second against Brisbane at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 23 creates history, the first time NRL football has ever been played in Dunedin.

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The Vodafone Warriors will also be back at Mount Smart Stadium permanently in the New Year after using the Millennium Institute, North Harbour Stadium and Cornwall Park so far.

Scheduled for the morning of Friday, January 4 is a training session at Mairangi Bay.