Warriors and All Blacks games set to clash after NRL schedules home final for Saturday night

Sporting fans across New Zealand will have a difficult decision to make on Saturday, with the Warriors’ opening NRL finals game set to clash with the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship test.

It comes after the Herald reported it was understood there were conversations between Warriors chief executive Cameron George and senior NRL officials last week in the case of a hypothetical home final in the first week.

It’s believed George expressed a preference for the Sunday evening timeslot (6.05pm), with Friday night as a back-up.

But the NRL’s schedule for week one of the finals – released on Sunday night – will see the Warriors host four-time defending champions the Penrith Panthers at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium at 6.05pm on Saturday.

The All Blacks meanwhile will kick off their rematch against the Springboks an hour later at 7.05pm in Wellington.

Historically, the NRL haven’t always considered the placement of other sports, generally being more focused on the Australian market and their broadcasting.

The Warriors finished the NRL regular season in sixth place after a far from emphatic display against the Manly Sea Eagles in round 27, losing 27-26. They face the Panthers in a must-win home game if they wish to advance to the semifinals, where they would face a top-four side.

It will be just the third home finals match in almost two decades for the Auckland-based NRL side, after the 2023 clash with Newcastle and the unforgettable win over the Roosters in 2008.

“More than four million people attended Premiership matches in the regular season and close to 150 million people watched live across the country, making this another record season for the NRL,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said on Sunday night.

“The finals will be unpredictable and the race for Premiership glory is wide open.”

The All Blacks bested the Springboks 24-17 in Auckland on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Eden Park crowd – extending their unbeaten streak at the fortress to 51 tests.

NRL Playoffs schedule - Week one

Friday, September 12

Qualifying final – Melbourne Storm (2nd) v Canterbury Bulldogs (3rd), 9.50pm (NZT), AAMI Park

Saturday, September 13

Elimination final – NZ Warriors (6th) v Penrith Panthers (7th), 6.05pm (NZT), Go Media Stadium

Elimination final – Cronulla Sharks (5th) v Sydney Roosters (8th), 9.50pm (NZT), Sharks Stadium

Sunday, September 14

Qualifying final – Canberra Raiders (1st) v Brisbane Broncos (4th), 6.05pm (NZT), GIO Stadium