General Warriors or Wahs?
- Thread starter miket12
- Start date
NZWarriors.com
Up Da Warriors! - UPDWAH Personalised Plate - Charity Auction | Trade Me Motors
Up the Wahs! Up the Hokianga Awhi Trust! Support the boys, and our tamariki. We’re selling off our beloved plate to help fundraise for the Hokianga Awh...
www.trademe.co.nz
2.5 hrs left...
almost 10k
Worried2Death
Contributor
It's pretty surreal when some of your dreams start happening in reality. What if I've been in a coma all year and I'm still dreaming? How would I know?
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View attachment 118Up Da Warriors! - UPDWAH Personalised Plate - Charity Auction | Trade Me Motors
Up the Wahs! Up the Hokianga Awhi Trust! Support the boys, and our tamariki. We’re selling off our beloved plate to help fundraise for the Hokianga Awh...
2.5 hrs left...
almost 10k
But which Wah am I upping, by purchasing this plate?
Do I get to choose?
How do I choose? CNK? SJ? AFB? Berrysiah?
So many Wahs to pick from, so many questions...
Christchurch_Warrior
Contributor
Got to admit it that Up the Wahs is growing on me.
AIMS games opening ceremony kicked off yesterday in Tauranga. It’s a huge intermediate school ‘Olympics style’ sporting with 11,000 students attending.
At the opening ceremony they did a massive selfie video with the crowd saying “up the Wahs” to be sent to the New Zealand Warriors.
In the same week the All Blacks kick off the rugby World Cup
.
Awesome time to be a warriors fan.
At the opening ceremony they did a massive selfie video with the crowd saying “up the Wahs” to be sent to the New Zealand Warriors.
In the same week the All Blacks kick off the rugby World Cup
.Awesome time to be a warriors fan.
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- Thread starter
- #27
Unmasking the Warriors enigma: Exploring the origins of ‘Up the Wahs’ as catchphrase sweeps the nation
The Kiwi sports landscape has been hit with a storm that even Jim Hickey wouldn’t have seen coming.Move over ‘Bring Back Buck’ and ‘Lets Gone Warriors’, there’s a new catchphrase in town that’s spreading faster than workplace gossip. If you haven’t guessed, it’s time to get on board with the one and only, the enigmatic, ‘Up the Wahs’. It’s the phrase that’s hotter than a petrol station mince pie, and it’s taking New Zealand and the world by storm.
The Warriors are on a roll like no other, having their best season in two decades. They’ve sealed a top-four finish with the kind of precision that would make a sheepdog proud. And what’s the icing on the cake? A double life after the regular season ends and guaranteed home finals game.
But it’s not just about the league. Alongside the Warriors’ triumphs, ‘Up the Wahs’ has been popping up everywhere like seagulls around a chip shop. It’s invaded classic Kiwi tunes, sprouted up on supermarket signs, and even found its way onto beer cans faster than you can say Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Not to mention, the catchphrase has made its mark on some top-notch athletes. We’re talking NBA legend Steve Kerr, former Warriors fullback turned Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh and even the All Blacks.
But where did it come from? The Herald has thrown its investigative team headfirst into the bewildering world of Warriors fandom to uncover the truth behind the phenomenon.
The Warriors Anonymous Facebook group, full of diehard fans, is divided like a game of two halves – some reckon it’s sourced from our Aussie neighbours calling them the ‘Wah Wahs’ back in the day to tease the team for a bit of whinging. Others believe that the halfback himself, Shaun Johnson, was the mastermind behind it.
There are sceptics too. The legendary Mad Butcher, Sir Peter Leitch, isn’t wild about the new chant.
“I’m not a big fan of it. I always tell people: ‘Let’s go Warriors’ because that’s our name, but I’m losing it. I was trying to fight it but it was like swimming against the current.”
The real plot twist comes from the Warriors’ own locker room. Wairangi Koopu of The Crowd Goes Wild played referee and asked some past and present players on whether they were repping ‘Up the Warriors’ or sticking with the traditional ‘Lets Gone Warriors’. The final score? 7-8 in favour of the former.
Superfan Gerard Cronin turned the catchphrase into a bona fide anthem. Imagine the Kiwi classic How Bizzare by OMC transformed into an ode to the Warriors, complete with shoutouts to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and our monstrous pack of forwards.
“A lot of people who don’t like the word [Wahs] still enjoy the song and people who are fans of other teams have gotten into the song as well,” Cronin told the Herald. “It really came out of nowhere ... something just clicked in my head.”
For him, the origins of ‘Up the Wahs’ were “a great mystery”. But Cronin thinks he first saw the phrase on Shaun Johnson’s social media.
The man behind retro jersey reseller NZ Jersey Hunter, Luca Bosch, also thought Johnson was one of the first people to use the expression ‘Up the Wahs’.
Bosch said the success of the team has been great for business: “Warriors Jerseys are always in demand, but yeah it’s a lot trickier [at the moment] to get specific items now that so many people are looking. The 1995 away jersey, the white one made by Canterbury, that’s the one that everybody is after.”
The success of the Warriors captured the attention of the team at Good George Brewing who brought out a bandwagon ‘Up the Wahs’ lager. The first batch quickly sold out, and they’ve since brewed another.
The brewery’s head of marketing Damon Youdale said Good George knew the beer would be a winner but its popularity “even caught us by surprise”.
“On April Fools, we put out a post that we were putting in a bid to buy the Warriors and we were going to move them down to the Waikato. A few people fell for it and others understood it was a bit tongue in cheek. We could tell that our audience just loved the Warriors and I guess there were a few die-hard pans in the office as well. That kind of planted the seed and obviously, it’s been one of the best seasons in a long time.”
Nathan Limm, the host of NZME’s Big League Podcast, said he was a bit late to the train on this one and while “some fans don’t like it” he thought it brilliant.
“You see it on social media at random events like festivals in Germany and stuff and Warriors jumpers at random sports events that have nothing to do with league. I think it’s hilarious and it creates a lot of pride in the club for people all over the world.
“I love it as a motto because it’s really easy to remember and everyone can jump on board. I’ve grown up watching the Warriors and feel like I’ve nearly always been let down so to see them being so consistent week in and week out, they’ve given the fans a huge amount of confidence.”
For those on the fence about ‘Up the Wahs’ and needing an excuse to get on board, former Kangaroos and NRL journeyman Willie Mason dislikes it so much he went on a foul-mouthed podcast tirade earlier in the season and his opinion might tip you over the edge.
“How long have they been called the Wahs for? ... I do not call them the Wahs ... It’s Warriors to me and that’s f***ing it,” he said. “Who the f*** are you talking about the Wahs?”
Starved of answers, not even the team at Google could provide anything definitive about search history for the term, although the success of the 2023 season has led to Google search interest in the Warriors reaching an all-time high in August. Top searches related to “Up the Wahs” were “Up the Wahs song” and “Up the Wahs socks”. Interestingly, the top region for searching “Up the Wahs” in the past two months was Manawatū-Whanganui, ahead of Wellington, Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury.
Ultimately, no one seems to know where “Up the Wahs” sprang from, but it might just be the best thing to happen since Sir Ernest Rutherford combined onion soup mix with reduced cream. One thing that can’t be denied is the pride the Kiwi sporting community is feeling in their team and the success they’re enjoying in 2023.
The catchphrase has secured a place in our hearts quicker than an Shaun Johnson break and whether you’re chanting it at the game, singing along to Cronin’s anthem, or cracking open a cold one with “Up the Wahs” on the label, one thing’s for sure: This rallying cry has us all behind the team.
Up the Wahs!
Luke Kirkness is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He previously covered consumer affairs for the Herald and was an assistant news director in the Bay of Plenty. He won Student Journalist of the Year in 2019.
Up the Wahs mania! Sensational season ignites craze for mysterious chant
The unbelievable rise of 'Up the Wahs' amid the Warriors' 2023 season success.
Dlenai
Contributor
I first heard the term “Wah’s” on either Isaac John’s podcast interview with Shaun Johnson before he came back to the Warriors, or on one of SJ’s vlogs
Either way I’m pretty sure SJ or Isaac John started it
Either way I’m pretty sure SJ or Isaac John started it
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At 49:55, that is the first time I can remember hearing 'Up the Wahs'. I am sure I had heard SJ say Wahs before even that podcast though.
If Adam Blair was the first recorded time "Wahs" was said (instead of "Wah Wahs") then so be it, but as far as I know/care SJ popularised it, and really who better could there have been?
NRL: Warriors and Good George Brewing both apply to trade mark ‘Up the Wahs’ term
It’s the catchphrase sweeping the nation and now a popular craft beer brewery is facing off against the Warriors in a bid to own the trade mark for the term “Up The Wahs”.Good George Brewing filed for the term in late August, meanwhile, the New Zealand Warriors followed suit a little over a week later but its chief executive told the Heraldhe knew nothing about the brewery’s application.
Both applications are still under examination by the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) but a lawyer who specialises in trade marks and intellectual property thinks both could get what they want.
On August 23, Somerset Brewing Company Limited, Good George’s legal trading name, filed the application with the hopes of using it for classes 32 and 33: beers; non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks; syrups and other preparations for making beverages, and alcoholic beverages (except beers) respectively.
Earlier this year, Good George brought out a bandwagon ‘Up the Wahs’ lager, with the first batch quickly selling out, and have since brewed another.
New Zealand Warriors Limited filed an application for the term a little over a week later on September 1 for classes 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), 28 (games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles), 32, 33, 35 (advertising, retail and business), and 41 (education and entertainment; sporting and cultural activities).
New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George told the Herald he didn’t know about the Good George application.
“That’s not uncommon when people see different marketing things like this,” he said. “People will go and trade mark a lot of things so it’s not uncommon to have three or four different applications.
“At the end of the day, it’s just clearly an opportunity for us to associate those brands with our club which is exactly what it is. We’re just going through the process, I didn’t know anything about Good George.”
Good George director Jason Macklow told the Herald he too had “no idea” about the other application but would like to work with the Warriors.
“I had no idea that the Warriors had made an application for it so it was totally news to me in that respect but it’s a hell of a cool term. The Warriors fans are a staunch, loyal sort of bunch and we’ve been blown away by the demand out of that product.
“We get on well with the Warriors guys ... at the end of the day, we’d be happy to give the application or the trade mark to the Warriors with the hopes of working with them on it.”
Head of litigation and commercial at AJ Park, Paul Johns, told the Herald because Good George’s application was in first, it would be examined first and may well be accepted. When it comes to the Warriors’ application IPONZ would most likely block the application, at least for classes 32 and 33, but the Warriors could seek to register the trade mark in the other classes.
“If you’re the Warriors, you’ll get an examination report saying, look, there’s this earlier identical mark in class 33 and 32 so you can’t have it in those classes. Their options are to delete classes 32 and 33 out of their own application and just proceed with the others or they can actually divide it up into two different applications: One covering the goods and services that aren’t being blocked and one covering the goods and services that are blocked and they’ll have to try and find a way to get that through, probably by opposing Good George’s application so it never becomes registered.”
Johns said the trade mark office would examine both applications to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements and were in the right form. In this case, he said it was likely the examiners would find some use of “Up the Wahs” but not by anyone using it as a trade mark.
“I suspect that the first application by Good George may well pass the examination and then it would be advertised in the Trade Mark Journal, which is online and gives formal notice to the world that the Intellectual Property Office intends to grant that trade mark.
“But there’s a window of three months in which someone can oppose that application, they do that by filing a formal notice with the office and then the applicant has the right to file evidence supporting its claim. The opponent gets the chance to file evidence in response to that explaining why it says it’s not entitled to registration. Each of those steps can take several months, and the whole opposition process tends to take at least a year.”
Without knowing what the positions of each party were, Johns said it was hard to say more but his message to other businesses was to get advice and be careful about adopting branding or slogans or images associated with other businesses without obtaining permission first.
Bitter feud: Trade mark battle under way for 'Up the Wahs' term
Exclusive: A brewery and the Warriors have both filed applications to trade mark the term.
I knew that beer was just a shitty cash in from a shitty brewery with no connection to rugby league.NRL: Warriors and Good George Brewing both apply to trade mark ‘Up the Wahs’ term
It’s the catchphrase sweeping the nation and now a popular craft beer brewery is facing off against the Warriors in a bid to own the trade mark for the term “Up The Wahs”.
Good George Brewing filed for the term in late August, meanwhile, the New Zealand Warriors followed suit a little over a week later but its chief executive told the Heraldhe knew nothing about the brewery’s application.
Both applications are still under examination by the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) but a lawyer who specialises in trade marks and intellectual property thinks both could get what they want.
On August 23, Somerset Brewing Company Limited, Good George’s legal trading name, filed the application with the hopes of using it for classes 32 and 33: beers; non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks; syrups and other preparations for making beverages, and alcoholic beverages (except beers) respectively.
Earlier this year, Good George brought out a bandwagon ‘Up the Wahs’ lager, with the first batch quickly selling out, and have since brewed another.
New Zealand Warriors Limited filed an application for the term a little over a week later on September 1 for classes 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), 28 (games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles), 32, 33, 35 (advertising, retail and business), and 41 (education and entertainment; sporting and cultural activities).
New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George told the Herald he didn’t know about the Good George application.
“That’s not uncommon when people see different marketing things like this,” he said. “People will go and trade mark a lot of things so it’s not uncommon to have three or four different applications.
“At the end of the day, it’s just clearly an opportunity for us to associate those brands with our club which is exactly what it is. We’re just going through the process, I didn’t know anything about Good George.”
Good George director Jason Macklow told the Herald he too had “no idea” about the other application but would like to work with the Warriors.
“I had no idea that the Warriors had made an application for it so it was totally news to me in that respect but it’s a hell of a cool term. The Warriors fans are a staunch, loyal sort of bunch and we’ve been blown away by the demand out of that product.
“We get on well with the Warriors guys ... at the end of the day, we’d be happy to give the application or the trade mark to the Warriors with the hopes of working with them on it.”
Head of litigation and commercial at AJ Park, Paul Johns, told the Herald because Good George’s application was in first, it would be examined first and may well be accepted. When it comes to the Warriors’ application IPONZ would most likely block the application, at least for classes 32 and 33, but the Warriors could seek to register the trade mark in the other classes.
“If you’re the Warriors, you’ll get an examination report saying, look, there’s this earlier identical mark in class 33 and 32 so you can’t have it in those classes. Their options are to delete classes 32 and 33 out of their own application and just proceed with the others or they can actually divide it up into two different applications: One covering the goods and services that aren’t being blocked and one covering the goods and services that are blocked and they’ll have to try and find a way to get that through, probably by opposing Good George’s application so it never becomes registered.”
Johns said the trade mark office would examine both applications to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements and were in the right form. In this case, he said it was likely the examiners would find some use of “Up the Wahs” but not by anyone using it as a trade mark.
“I suspect that the first application by Good George may well pass the examination and then it would be advertised in the Trade Mark Journal, which is online and gives formal notice to the world that the Intellectual Property Office intends to grant that trade mark.
“But there’s a window of three months in which someone can oppose that application, they do that by filing a formal notice with the office and then the applicant has the right to file evidence supporting its claim. The opponent gets the chance to file evidence in response to that explaining why it says it’s not entitled to registration. Each of those steps can take several months, and the whole opposition process tends to take at least a year.”
Without knowing what the positions of each party were, Johns said it was hard to say more but his message to other businesses was to get advice and be careful about adopting branding or slogans or images associated with other businesses without obtaining permission first.
Bitter feud: Trade mark battle under way for 'Up the Wahs' term
Exclusive: A brewery and the Warriors have both filed applications to trade mark the term.www.nzherald.co.nz
Last edited:
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Yes that's the first team of thought of up the WAHs ... should it have been up the WA's
NRL: Warriors and Good George Brewing both apply to trade mark ‘Up the Wahs’ term
It’s the catchphrase sweeping the nation and now a popular craft beer brewery is facing off against the Warriors in a bid to own the trade mark for the term “Up The Wahs”.
Good George Brewing filed for the term in late August, meanwhile, the New Zealand Warriors followed suit a little over a week later but its chief executive told the Heraldhe knew nothing about the brewery’s application.
Both applications are still under examination by the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) but a lawyer who specialises in trade marks and intellectual property thinks both could get what they want.
On August 23, Somerset Brewing Company Limited, Good George’s legal trading name, filed the application with the hopes of using it for classes 32 and 33: beers; non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks; syrups and other preparations for making beverages, and alcoholic beverages (except beers) respectively.
Earlier this year, Good George brought out a bandwagon ‘Up the Wahs’ lager, with the first batch quickly selling out, and have since brewed another.
New Zealand Warriors Limited filed an application for the term a little over a week later on September 1 for classes 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), 28 (games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles), 32, 33, 35 (advertising, retail and business), and 41 (education and entertainment; sporting and cultural activities).
New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George told the Herald he didn’t know about the Good George application.
“That’s not uncommon when people see different marketing things like this,” he said. “People will go and trade mark a lot of things so it’s not uncommon to have three or four different applications.
“At the end of the day, it’s just clearly an opportunity for us to associate those brands with our club which is exactly what it is. We’re just going through the process, I didn’t know anything about Good George.”
Good George director Jason Macklow told the Herald he too had “no idea” about the other application but would like to work with the Warriors.
“I had no idea that the Warriors had made an application for it so it was totally news to me in that respect but it’s a hell of a cool term. The Warriors fans are a staunch, loyal sort of bunch and we’ve been blown away by the demand out of that product.
“We get on well with the Warriors guys ... at the end of the day, we’d be happy to give the application or the trade mark to the Warriors with the hopes of working with them on it.”
Head of litigation and commercial at AJ Park, Paul Johns, told the Herald because Good George’s application was in first, it would be examined first and may well be accepted. When it comes to the Warriors’ application IPONZ would most likely block the application, at least for classes 32 and 33, but the Warriors could seek to register the trade mark in the other classes.
“If you’re the Warriors, you’ll get an examination report saying, look, there’s this earlier identical mark in class 33 and 32 so you can’t have it in those classes. Their options are to delete classes 32 and 33 out of their own application and just proceed with the others or they can actually divide it up into two different applications: One covering the goods and services that aren’t being blocked and one covering the goods and services that are blocked and they’ll have to try and find a way to get that through, probably by opposing Good George’s application so it never becomes registered.”
Johns said the trade mark office would examine both applications to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements and were in the right form. In this case, he said it was likely the examiners would find some use of “Up the Wahs” but not by anyone using it as a trade mark.
“I suspect that the first application by Good George may well pass the examination and then it would be advertised in the Trade Mark Journal, which is online and gives formal notice to the world that the Intellectual Property Office intends to grant that trade mark.
“But there’s a window of three months in which someone can oppose that application, they do that by filing a formal notice with the office and then the applicant has the right to file evidence supporting its claim. The opponent gets the chance to file evidence in response to that explaining why it says it’s not entitled to registration. Each of those steps can take several months, and the whole opposition process tends to take at least a year.”
Without knowing what the positions of each party were, Johns said it was hard to say more but his message to other businesses was to get advice and be careful about adopting branding or slogans or images associated with other businesses without obtaining permission first.
Bitter feud: Trade mark battle under way for 'Up the Wahs' term
Exclusive: A brewery and the Warriors have both filed applications to trade mark the term.
Cocks. Trademarking shit like this in beer is a real dickhead move. I was actually going to buy a slab of this, but not if they think they own a well known saying. In my opinion it's great for beer to reference pop culture and join in with the fun, but you don't go and try and own the rights to it.
Maybe the Warriors should work with an Auckland (craft) brewery and do something official. Are they sponsored by any big breweries at the moment? They used to have something shit like Woodstock on the jerseys, but I'm pretty sure there are no alcohol brands on the uniform now?
The Epic Taproom is in Onehunga (4min drive, 24min walk from Mount Smart, according to Google Maps). They went into liquidation recently, despite being one of the original and most consistent brands over the last decade or so, but they have been rescued... and they brew a fucking good lager. They brew at Steam where they have to do massive batches, so there would be no problem supplying a demand.
Kestrel84
Contributor
I can confirm that it really is shit beer also.
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People should comment on their socials - they should donate to grass roots footy.
Agree.
And hate to say it but a few of us mentioned on the last site that the Warriors needed to protect the name.
Sort of feel the Warriors dropped the ball and allowed these guys to beat them to it.
tajhay
💙💚❤️
Yeah the Warriors dropped the ball it seems. The Warriors only filed the application 6 days ago lol...there's been pics posted everywhere regarding the beer. It is a grubby move by the beer Co, but the Warriors can't be so sleepy at the wheel either.
Surely someone at the Warriors/Autex had seen those beers before then?
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Kestrel84
Contributor
I know absolutely nothing about law or IP, but with Good George using the Warriors colours and the "up the Wahs" phrase on their product, clearly referencing the Warriors NRL club, couldn't that potentially put them in hot water if they hadn't actually got a deal in place with the club previously?
