The Warriors’ NRL finals hopes are in trouble - Chris Rattue’s Watchlist

A dejected Jazz Tevaga of the Warriors after the 66-6 loss to the Titans. Photo / Photosport

THREE KEY FACTS

• India and South Africa will contest the Twenty20 World Cup final on Sunday morning
• Euro 2024 round of 16 matches have been set
• The Warriors need to beat the Broncos on Saturday to keep their finals hopes alive

Chris Rattue has been a journalist since 1980 and is one of the most respected opinion writers in New Zealand sports journalism

OPINION

Wakey, wakey…T20 World Cup final, Sunday 2.30am

Wild horses - or even a toasted sandwich and a cup of tea - couldn’t drag me out of bed to watch the final act in this whacky World Cup.

Then again, if the dreaded insomnia strikes, it might be an entertaining way of getting through the night.

South Africa’s ridiculously easy semifinal win over Afghanistan exposed T20 and this tournament’s inherent flaws.

But the final could be a blast.

Coverage: Sky.

India celebrate their victory over England. Photo / Getty Images

A personal favourite…Belgium v France, Euro 2024 knockout stage, Tuesday 4am.

It’s cutthroat football time…brilliant.

On the face of it, this is the classiest game in the round of 16 although a few of the tournament heavyweights, including these two, are getting bogged down.

Kevin De Bruyne versus Kylian Mbappe is a tantalising prospect.

It would be fantastic to see Belgium win Euro 2024 in Germany, because De Bruyne deserves a major trophy to crown his career.

Meanwhile, all hell will break loose if England fall to Slovakia (Monday, 4am).

Coverage: All games on TVNZ+, check listings for the odd game that appears on Duke.

Something different…Sacred: A Rugby Story for the Ages, various times.

A documentary on Sacred Heart College’s very rare Auckland 1A title victory in 2023, made by school old boys, makes its public debut on Sunday.

This 40-minute programme got two thumbs up from the NZ Herald’s schools rugby writer Bruce Holloway.

Schoolboy rugby still seems to touch the heartstrings the way rugby in general used to.

Coverage: The documentary appears on Sky (Sunday 7am & 6.30pm) and then throughout the week.

No going forward…Warriors v Brisbane, Saturday 5pm

The Warriors’ NRL finals hopes are in trouble.

Meanwhile, the shaky Broncos can ill-afford to hit Auckland without their potentially exhausted State of Origin stars Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Reece Walsh on board.

The Warriors have crucial players back but they’ve made a habit of blowing great starts at Mt Smart, are coming off a disaster on the Gold Coast and their go-forward needs an overhaul.

Coach Andrew Webster continues to name middleweight tackling machine Jackson Ford as a middle forward, even though he’s like a go-kart in a demolition derby when it comes to smashing the ball up.

Throw in prop Addin Fonua-Blake’s apparent form crash (it’s difficult to tell where the big man is at right now) and an underwhelming bench…eeeek.

But where there is Mitch Barnett, there is hope. And maybe the mighty Haas and Carrigan will be pooped.

Coverage: Sky

The Warriors must improve dramatically if they are to beat the Broncos. Photo / AAP