Former Manly Sea Eagles and Canterbury rugby league legend Mark Broadhurst will have the best seat in the house at AMI Stadium in Christchurch for next year’s National Rugby League match between Manly and the New Zealand Warriors.
Tickets are on now to the general public via Ticketek for the Christchurch match on Saturday June 9, at 5pm, and Broadhurst has been allocated the No.1 ticket.
The Sea Eagles have committed to bringing at least two home games to Christchurch in 2018 and 2019 with an option for a third match in 2020.
Broadhurst says he can’t wait to see his old club colours run onto AMI Stadium on June 9 and is proud to be an ambassador for his old club in his home town.
The former Kiwi started his career with Papanui and Marist-Western Suburbs in Christchurch before signing with Manly-Warringah for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. Broadhurst was tough as nails and is still remembered in Manly folklore for a legendary brawl with Newtown’s Steve Bowden during the 1981 minor semi-finals.
“It will be an amazing night to see Manly playing on the former Rugby League Park ground and it will be even more special playing against the Warriors,” says Broadhurst who represented the Kiwis on 17 occasions and was also on the books at the Illawarra Steelers and Hull in England, before returning to Christchurch to keep playing in the lower grades into his late forties.
Broadhurst says last year’s Penrith match at AMI Stadium showed there is a real appetite for NRL matches in Christchurch and encourages rugby league fans to get their tickets early. “That match was a sell-out and I think the demand for Manly will be even bigger.”
Match promoter Justin Wallace says pre-sale demand has already been high and organisers have introduced a staggered early-bird pricing model to reward the most decisive fans.
“The fans who purchase their tickets early will get the best deal,” says Mr Wallace. “Just like airline seats, the prices will increase once the allocated cheaper tickets have been snapped up.”
Because of the early kick-off time of 5pm, the match organisers again expect big interest among families and children and will offer attractive deals to make the match more affordable for family groups.
Tickets for the game can be purchased through www.ticketek.co.nz
Manly Sea Eagles v New Zealand Warriors, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday June 9, 5pm kick-off.
