Over the past three years, the Warriors have sold out 37 of their 38 home games, becoming the first NRL club to sell out every home match during a season in 2024, which they again repeated this year.
While Mt Smart has a capacity of about 26,000, Eden Park can fit 50,000 and, with the Warriors’ season on the line on Sunday, there is expected to be plenty of interest in the contest.
There was plenty of outrage from fans who missed out on tickets to the Dolphins clash which would have also prompted the move.
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said it is a big moment for the stadium to host an NRL finals match.
“We want every Wahs fan to feel at home at Eden Park. From the moment the gates to the Outer Oval open at 1pm, the precinct will come alive with music, activities and entertainment as we build towards kickoff,” Sautner said.
“With close to 50,000 fans expected, this has the potential to be the biggest NRL game in New Zealand history and one of the most memorable sporting occasions our country has witnessed.
“The City Rail Link will help bring fans directly to the Wah-Den of Eden, with Kingsland Station located immediately beside the stadium. We encourage everyone to arrive early, enjoy the fan experience and help create an atmosphere worthy of this historic final.”
Eden Park will host the Warriors-Knights clash on September 20. Photo / Photosport
The Warriors’ record at Eden Park doesn’t make for pretty reading though, with just one win in six matches played there.
However, the largest-ever home crowd for a Warriors match was at Eden Park, when they faced the Parramatta Eels in the 2011 season opener.
The Warriors have two games locked in for Eden Park next year, on Anzac Day, while they will be the away side for a game played on June 13, which takes place just days before the stadium hosts the historic first New Zealand State of Origin match.
The Knights advanced to week two of the NRL finals after claiming an upset 20-10 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster labelled their performance as gutsy.
“They had a lot of momentum in that first half. I think the scoreboard, they could have had more points,” Webster said.
“They’re a good side. We’ve played them twice this year and it’s funny, it’s only two weeks ago, so we know each other well and we know what we’re going to have to do.”
Meanwhile, Warriors duo Adam Pompey and Kurt Capewell have escaped suspension after being charged by the NRL’s match review committee.
Pompey has been hit with a Grade 1 shoulder charge citation but will be free to line up in next week’s sudden-death semi-final if he takes the early guilty plea. The centre will pay an A$3000 fine with the early plea but risks a two-game ban if he unsuccessfully challenges the citation.
Capewell is also facing a fine for his involvement in a melee, with the veteran handed a Grade 1 contrary conduct charge alongside Dolphins back Selwyn Cobbo. Both players will pay an A$750 fine with the early plea or A$1000 if found guilty at the judiciary.
The Warriors have beaten the Knights twice already this season, once in round three in Newcastle and more recently in round 26 in Auckland.
While the Warriors claimed a comfortable 38-12 win in their meeting earlier this season, their most recent clash was a real arm wrestle.
The Warriors had to overcome a 16-point deficit before claiming a 46-32 win, however there were some concerns to come from the win, considering the Knights played the majority of the game down a player after Jacob Saifiti was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
The Knights haven’t won in New Zealand since 2019.
The winner of the match will face either the Penrith Panthers or the Sydney Roosters for a spot in the NRL grand final.
Meanwhile, the loser from the Panthers-Roosters game will face the Cronulla Sharks in the other sudden-death semi-final, with the winner of that match advancing to the preliminary finals to face the Dolphins in Brisbane.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.