In a heartwarming collaboraton that blends sport, creatvity, and community spirit, the Higgins Concrete Manawatū Turbos and Manawatū Cyclones have partnered with the children’s ward at Palmerston North Hospital to design their 2025 Charity Jerseys — and this year’s theme is all about Heroes.

For the first time ever, both teams will unveil unique jerseys inspired by the imagination and resilience of the young patients they worked alongside. The initative, proudly supported by the Palmerston North Hospital Foundation and long-time Turbos partner PTS Logistics, is part of a broader commitment to connect with the community, our whānau and celebrate the real heroes among us.

Turbos players Ngani Laumape, Brayden Iose, Brett Cameron and Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, alongside Cyclones Rangimarie and Kahu Sturmey and Anahera Hamahona joined forces with coaches Wesley Clark and Bryce Grant, along with team manager Muz Sujau and Rodney Wong from the Hospital Foundation Board, to spend time with the children and help bring their ideas to life.

The unique jerseys will be worn by each team for the home double header on September 6th when the Turbos play Waikato and the Cyclones face off against Counties Manukau. These game-worn jerseys will then be auctioned off to raise money for the children’s ward.

The jersey design process will be shared over the coming weeks, leading up to the big reveal and opportunities for the public to support the cause. Funds raised will go directly toward enhancing the hospital experience for children — including replacing vital equipment like ward TVs.

Children’s Ward Manager Tracy Stone shared the impact of the initiative - “years ago they did the same thing, and did the TVs for us, and we're going to get them replaced. So, what that means to the kids is incredible. They are sick kids siƫng in a bed and having the funds to do that is incredible. So we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in doing this for us.”

MRU Commercial Manager Frazer Hutana spoke about the collaboration – “it’s more than just a jersey, it’s a celebration of courage, creativity, and community — and a reminder that heroes come in all sizes. Whilst these kids look up to our Turbos and Cyclones players, our players also take inspiration from the kids who are so brave, strong and facing challenges like true champions. We are truly privileged to be in a position to support such a great cause.”

Article added: Wednesday 02 July 2025