The New Zealand Warriors have been the surprise of the NRL season so far, enjoying a dynamite season that saw them finish the regular season fourth on the ladder with 16 wins and eight losses and progress to the preliminary finals.
As the legend of the Warriors grew, so did their battle cry, with footy fans across the nation coming together to cheer "Up the Wahs".
But where did this viral slogan come from, what does it mean, and how has it captured the hearts of a nation?
What does 'Up the Wahs' mean?
This one is pretty simple: 'Wahs' is a slang nickname for the Warriors, added to the end of the common sports rallying cry 'Up the X' to create a truly unforgettable earworm.
The phrase has become the go-to for New Zealand Warriors fans who are enjoying the team's best season since 2007.
Where did 'Up the Wahs' come from?
This is where it gets a bit contentious.
According to the NZ Herald, fans are split between two camps; some believe it derives from a time when Australians labeled the Warriors 'Wah wahs' in reference to their complaining, while others believe it was Warriors hero Shaun Johnson himself that brought it to fame, posting on his Instagram.
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Website The Spinoff conducted a much more thorough investigation, and traced the origins of the sayings back to former Warriors' head of commercial Don Mann, who claims a friend's son was the first to utter the term 'Wahs' more than 13 years ago.
No way they got Steve Kerr to say ‘Up the Wahs’ 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/RxcfPC5tGs
— yaddle (@yaddleiswashed) August 25, 2023
Whatever the term's origin, it is clear that it is here to stay, with up-the-wahs-mania taking over the world, being referenced in music, on beer cans, and even uttered by NBA championship head coach Steve Kerr - who conveniently coaches the Golden State Warriors.
