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The New Zealand Warriors are pushing for an early Saturday kick-off for their elimination final to avoid going head-to-head with the mighty All Blacks.
The NRL will wait until Sunday night to announce the schedule for week one of the finals.
It has been widely speculated that the Storm and Bulldogs would meet at AAMI Park on Friday night to open the finals, then the Warriors and Cronulla would host Penrith and the Roosters respectively at 4pm and 7.50pm on Saturday, with Canberra to be granted their Sunday afternoon wish when they play the Broncos.
The Raiders finished first and wanted the last timeslot to give those players not rested on Sunday a seven-day turnaround.
If the Warriors kick off at 4pm, or 6pm in Auckland, they will clash with the All Blacks, who start their Rugby Championships clash with South Africa at 5pm Australian time.
By bringing the game forward an hour, there would be not overlap with New Zealand’s only league team and their proud rugby side.
Chanel Harris-Tavita and teammates celebrate.Credit: Getty Images
However, a 3pm kick-off in Australia would overlap with the Wallabies’ clash with Argentina in Sydney, which starts at 2pm. Rugby Australia only agreed to kick off that game at 2pm so Channel Nine could have that Test followed by the two NRL finals.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George says there is a simple solution to the potential scheduling clash.
George did not want to get drawn into the debate, but did say on Saturday: “I’d hate to think people watching at home or in clubs and pubs are forced to decide what code to watch midway through our game.”
There has been talk of moving the Raiders’ final to Saturday night and playing the Warriors on Sunday to avoid the All Blacks clash.
The Raiders look set to get their wish to play on Sunday in week one of the finals.Credit: Getty Images
The Broncos have the biggest following in league, and a prime-time Saturday night timeslot only added to the appeal. But that would have meant the Raiders had a six-day turnaround, compared to Brisbane’s nine days.
“Our preference is to play Sunday afternoon,” Canberra CEO Don Furner said.
The Warriors lost five of their past seven games, and coach Andrew Webster was quick to point out few experts and fans living in Australia would give his side much hope of progressing past next Saturday.
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“No one has given us a chance since day one – we’re used to that,” Webster said. “We believe what we can do in that dressing room. Back home, all our fans believe it. We’ll have a full house at Mt Smart Stadium.
“Lots of people at the start of the season would do anything to have a home semi.
“I just said to the boys, we’re in control of this, we’re the ones beating ourselves at the moment.
“A day in rugby league is a long time, let alone a week. If we play our best football, let’s see where it takes us.”
Rocco Berry dislocated his shoulder in the opening minutes of the 27-26 loss to Manly, and waited more than an hour for an ambulance to arrive at 4 Pines Park before a Warriors staffer drove the centre to the hospital.
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