Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson's silky skills are a welcome sight on most footy fields, with the possible exception of Masterton's Memorial Park.

Masterton's bid to bring the New Zealand Warriors to town next year may be hit by a snag straight from the history books.

The proposed Warriors versus Melbourne Storm preseason game at Trust House Memorial Park apparently runs afoul of a historic anti-league stipulation at the ground.

According to A Very Publick​ Reserve by Wairarapa historian Gareth Winter, money lent by the New Zealand Rugby Union to fund Memorial Park came with one strict condition: no league.

PIERS FULLER/FAIRFAX NZ Money lent by the New Zealand Rugby Union to fund Memorial Park came with one condition: no league, forever.

"They stipulated other sports could use the ground for international matches, except rugby league which must be banned forever," a passage from the book reads.

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Nobody in town can recall a major league game being played at the park, suggesting the archaic stipulation has been adhered too since it opened in 1963.

PIERS FULLER/ FAIRFAX NZ Wairarapa Archivist Gareth Winter with his book A Very Publick (sic) Reserve.

"In fairness there has probably been little demand for league here. In the 1990s there was a league team here but I think they didn't last much longer than a season," Winter said.

"Ironically, two of Wairarapa's best rugby players crossed over into league... and they were totally ostracised for it."

One of them was Bert Cooke, who played for the All Blacks in the 1920s and early 30s, before switching to union for Wairarapa and Wellington.

PIERS FULLER/FAIRFAX NZ Trust House Memorial Park has been the home of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union for decades, but no one can recall a major league fixture ever being played at the ground.

So is the crash and bang of the NRL permanently banished from the home of the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union after all? Union member Tony Hargood doesn't seem to think so.

"I think society's moved on, hasn't it? That was a very long time ago and I don't particularly think it's an issue. Without being pedantic, there's been a number of lease contracts since 1950 so I don't think it'll be a problem."

New Zealand Rugby said it was unaware of the stipulation.

PIERS FULLER/FAIRFAX NZ Masterton District Council is confident the supposed ban on rugby league at Trust House Memorial Park won't hamper its bid to lure the NZ Warriors for a preseason game.

Given the evident lack of opposition to the league ban, Masterton District Council said the proposal was going ahead.

The council's economic development manager Kieran McAnulty, who is pushing the bid, said he had become aware of the league ban but wasn't particularly worried by it.

"I think it's really just a relic from a long rivalry between the two codes," he said.0

"I don't see it as an issue, and I'd be surprised if it was still New Zealand Rugby's policy. It's a reminder of what was going on in the old days, but that's certainly not the case now."

Submissions to host the game close at the end of June. Several other towns in are bidding alongside Masterton.

McAnulty said he had been to Auckland to chat with Warriors representatives and found them to be receptive.

Community interest around Masterton had been just as encouraging, and McAnulty was awaiting the Warriors' decision with interest.

"There's been a lot of excitement around the region," he said. "It may not come off, but it's all very promising."