Booze, jerseys and a Swede: All aboard the Wahs Express

The Warriors are two wins away from their first NRL grand final since 2011. About 48,000 fans will pack into Eden Park to watch their semi-final against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday, baying for victory. A week ago, 160 Warriors fanatics boarded a flight from Christchurch to Auckland for their ill-fated elimination final against the Dolphins. Nathan Limm was on board… 

“Did anyone order a vodka tonic?” 

It’s 10.37am in Christchurch Airport. Canterbury leaguies have wasted precisely no time adopting a festive atmosphere. This is rarefied air. 

In 32 years, the Warriors have reached the NRL Finals 11 times. Tonight’s fixture against the Dolphins marks only their sixth home final. This year’s campaign has been touted as potentially their greatest chance at an elusive premiership title. 

There’s an excited buzz around the lounge. The ambience is one of laughter, with strangers greeting one another as if lifelong friends. 

Nige and Mel Vincent are two of 160 Warriors fans moments away from boarding the Wahs Express, an Air New Zealand flight specifically for transporting diehard Cantabs to the party at Go Media Stadium in Auckland’s Penrose. 

Warriors fans gathered at Christchurch Airport and greeted one another as if lifelong friends. Photo / Ryan Herbert 

“As soon as I walked in the airport, there were a couple there and ‘hey, how you going?’ Big smiles. It was like you’ve known them. They’re like family.” 

Tim Panting and Sharon Hanging have been flying up for Warriors games for about 25 years. Tim surprised Sharon with the trip this morning, but admits word of their destination leaked early. 

“The Uber driver blew it.” 

Former Warrior Awen Guttenbeil, who made 170 appearances for the side, pauses taking photos with fans to tell me the energy is unreal. 

Go Media Stadium’s south stand has a reputation for being a little feral, and Guttenbeil jokingly hopes the potentially rowdy journey will stay orderly. 

“My mission today is just to temper the emotions on the flight because once we get there, we can start building into it. 

“It’s a real movement in the Warriors Nation. The way we’ve got people right across the country and Australia, whenever we’re playing overseas, it’s like a home game.” 

Former Warrior Awen Guttenbeil (centre) was on hand to take photos with fans and hand out free kit. Photo / Ryan Herbert 

As we board the plane, an experienced flight attendant tells her colleague, “In 20 years of flying, this is the best flight I’ve ever been on, the best vibe”. 

Bizarrely, the first accent we hear over the intercom is Swedish. 

“Air New Zealand have a funny habit of picking foreigners for these New Zealand-specific flights,” the pilot says. “I’m probably the latest Wahs fan.” 

The pre-flight weather check from our Nordic captain wouldn’t be complete without a slightly unconvincing report on pending conditions for kickoff at Go Media Stadium – fine, but chilly. 

“Although I’m not a weather forecaster. I just fly this thing.” 

The one-hour, five-minute flight takes off at 12.49pm. We’re in the air for barely 10 minutes before the passengers are led through a rendition of “Ooh, ahh, up the Wahs”. 

Some 160 Warriors fans boarded a flight from Christchurch to Auckland before the side's finals game against the Dolphins. Photo / Ryan Herbert 

Guttenbeil leads a giveaway, in which random passengers are rewarded for their attendance with fresh team kit. 

Flight attendants draped in Warriors scarves peruse the aisle, treating fans to an extra snack. 

I make direct eye contact with the beaming face of Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, whose mug is poking out of the seat pocket of a woman two rows in front of me, alongside an oversized cut-out of lock Erin Clark. 

Nige and Mel are so bullish about the Warriors’ chances, they booked tickets for the NRL grand final six weeks ago. 

“They’ve got it,” Mel said. “They’ve totally got it, and we’ll see them at the grand final.” 

“I’ve got to be 90% sure,” Nige said. “I reckon we can do it. It’s definitely our year.” 

An Air New Zealand flight attendant described the atmosphere as the best vibe she had witnessed in 20 years of flying. Photo / Ryan Herbert 

The couple went to Las Vegas to see the Warriors at the start of last year and said it was amazing. 

“Once in a lifetime sort of trip. Not the outcome we wanted, but to be there walking around, you see people in Wahs jerseys like you’ve known them; they’re your friends. We got to meet a few of the players, have a bit of a yarn. Real family vibe. It was awesome.” 

Zack Kenny was on the last Wahs Express in 2023, heading to Auckland for the Warriors’ elimination final against the Newcastle Knights. 

“Unreal experience. Couldn’t wait to get back on it and go again. It’s an awesome atmosphere, ready to go. We’re actually about to go to the bar now and have one.” 

I might join him. 

Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.