Melbourne Storm have reclaimed their annual Anzac Day fixture with the National Rugby League and broadcasters changing their scheduling on Friday.
Originally slated to play their round seven fixture against the Warriors on Easter Sunday - which falls on April 24 - the Storm will now play at 7:00pm (AEST)
the following day, with Canberra's clash against Newcastle switched from Anzac Day to Easter Sunday.
The Storm had hosted the Warriors on Anzac Day the past two years and had been keen to make it an annual event.
The club also wanted to take advantage of the potential spill over of fans leaving the AFL blockbuster between Essendon and Collingwood, which attracts around 90,000 fans across the road at the MCG.
"We're pretty happy with the result," Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said.
"We were involved in discussions prior to the announcement going out, we had put forward our position ...we're pleased that they reconsidered."
Asked if he hoped to maintain the late Anzac Day timeslot - with St George Illawarra taking on the Sydney Roosters in the afternoon in Sydney - Gauci said: "It's up to the NRL and the broadcasters obviously but it is our preference that we turn it into a traditional game."
The NRL claimed both home teams - Melbourne and Canberra - had been keen on the switch.
While keen to build on Anzac Day tradition, the Storm were also concerned about the possibility of playing at a near-empty AAMI Park had they been forced to play on Easter Sunday.
"It was always a concern to us when we put our original business plan in place that Sunday afternoon, when people were sitting around having their meals, that would not be conducive (to getting a crowd) at AAMI Park," Gauci said.
- AAP
