Rugby League Fan Hub in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Shoeys. Wedding anniversaries. Day-one diehards. Warriors fans are creating their own community in Las Vegas.
Hundreds of fans have flown to Nevada for the season opener against the Canberra Raiders.
Ray Everest and his three sons were among 350 fans who took a chartered flight from Auckland to Vegas for the game.
"Imagine three hundred Warriors fans flying out on a Tuesday at 8pm through the night, we had a few trolley dolleys, Dallin was serving the drinks, Shaun Johnson was dishing out the meals, that was an amazing experience in itself!"
However, not all were able to enjoy the 12-hour flight.
The only thing stronger than Kiha Rolleston's fear of flying, is his love for the Warriors.
"It's a big deal for me, it was very, daunting. My mind was always going straight to the flying part. So it was a bit hard for me to get through, but we managed to do it."
The trip was also doubling as his wedding anniversary.
When declaring his love for his wife to be, Rolleston was also sure to mention the other major love in his life.
"I said in my vows 'I want to want to take risks with you, whether it's going to watch the Warriors play the Panthers, I want to take that risk with you.'"
His wife Carla was not surprised.
"I knew he would've mentioned something about the Warriors in our vows, I was marrying the Warriors as well."
Rolleston even spent his wedding reception watching the Warriors play the Dolphins on his phone.
Everest's son, known as "the shoey guy", has also proven popular in Vegas.
"He drinks out of the shoe. So he's been just as famous as a lot of the players. People recognise him. So he's had a great time. Everywhere we go, everybody wants to get a photo with the 'shoey man' and have a shoey!"
Everest said the crew had been rubbing shoulders with rugby league legends such as Gordon Tallis and Allan Langer.
"We've had a few beers with old Gordy, he's become our best mate!"
The Warriors will officially kicking off their NRL season against the Raiders at 1pm on Sunday
And if the fans in Vegas are to be believed, "it's finally our year!"
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