ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
PERMANENT BELIEF
Luke Turner, 34, a lifelong Warriors tragic, is “99.9% there” on getting a tattoo to commemorate what is almost definitely, absolutely, without question — our year.
“I mean look, I’m not gonna get ahead of myself, but five straight wins with just one little stumble tonight? Basically top of the table? It’d be rude not to get inked,” said Turner, looking up prices at local tattoo parlours.
The Aucklander is continuing his research despite the Warriors loss to the Canberra Raiders, something he’s framed as a “hiccup”.
Turner, who previously started designing the same tattoo in 2011, 2018, and briefly in 2020 after a two-game win streak, admitted this year “just feels different.”
Tattoo artist Shannon Rei from Needle & Thread in New Lynn confirmed that Turner had stopped by for a consultation, but said while she encourages meaningful tattoos, she often warns sports fans about the permanence of ink and the volatility of NRL seasons.
“We had a guy a couple of years ago who got ‘Warriors Premiers 2023’ ahead of their semi final against the Broncos. Came back in October asking if I could turn the word ‘Premiers’ into ‘Pain’. Not ideal,” she said.
Turner is also reportedly considering a Plan B: adding a small asterisk next to the phrase “OUR YEAR” in case the season falls apart in late August.
More to come.
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