Warriors and staff are moving as one in pre-season training

OPINION: Well, the boys who make up our NRL Vodafone Warriors squad have now been training for three weeks solid and I can tell you they have really been put under the pump by Ivan Cleary and his coaching staff.

It's also good to see Tony Iro, Dean Bell and Dayne Norton back at training after returning from duty with the Kiwis in the UK.

Now that Ivan has all his staff back on board they can get moving as one.

My mate Lance Hohaia went in for some minor knee surgery last week but he'll be back in full swing when he returns to training in the first week of January.

Lance has played every game for the Kiwis in the past few months so he's been given a well-earned break.

But there's no such luck for Ben Matulino and Kevin Locke - they will be back in training this week.

Off the field, new captain Simon Mannering will attend his first NRL football conference in Sydney on Wednesday.

The annual conference is a chance for all coaches, captains and football managers to meet with the NRL, review the year and discuss important issues for the coming year.

Simon will be accompanied by Cleary and head of football operations Don Mann who have both attended the past four years.

On Tuesday night in Sydney it's the annual NRL One Community Awards.

The Vodafone Warriors have done well in recent seasons - being past winners of the NRL community club of the year and having Ruben Wiki as the first Kiwi to win the Ken Stephen medal as recognition for his work in the community.

This year Vodafone Warriors One Community manager Petrece Kesha has been nominated as a finalist in the Women In League (paid employment) category.

This is a fantastic achievement and recognises Petrece's passion for the One Community vision but also her wider contribution to the growth of the game.

For those who do not know, Petrece not only fulfils her role as One Community manager for the club but still holds a variety of positions within the Auckland Rugby League Referees Association.

I wish Petrece all the best with her nomination.

And spotted down at Chamberlain Park golf course over the past couple of weeks have been Joel Moon, new signing Brett Seymour and Aaron Heremaia who have been trying to outdo each other at golf.

It depends who you talk to when trying to find out which of them is the best but I understand they are super-competitive.

The big event on my radar is the Mad Butcher and Suburban Newspapers Community Trust Christmas lunch at Ellerslie on December 10.

It features our very own golden girl Valerie Vili. I went off the other day to hear her speak at another function and was blown away.

Of course we couldn't do these events without the great support we get from our sponsors, especially the good people of Lion Red and Glengarry Wines, because we all like a wee glass of something with our lunch.

Dai Henwood is going to do his comedy thing and Lapi Mariner is going to sing so it will be a fantastic event with all the proceeds going to hospice.

For tickets email Shan dall@madbutcher.co.nz or call her on 268-2912. Tables of 10 are $1800 plus GST.