The NRL has tonight confirmed the One New Zealand Warriors will face the four-times premiers the Penrith Panthers at 6.05pm on Saturday night in their week one finals clash at Go Media Stadium.
The Panthers sealed the match-up as they eased to a 40-20 win over St George Illawarra in their last regular season contest in Wollongong on Saturday.
That took Penrith back above the Sydney Roosters into seventh spot on the ladder to set up a battle with the sixth-placed Warriors.
In the other finals minor premiers the Canberra Raiders will host the fourth-placed Brisbane Broncos at GIO Stadium on Sunday, the Melbourne Storm (second) will be at home to the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (third) at AAMI Park of Friday night and the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (fifth) will face the Roosters (eighth) at Sharks Stadium in the late game on Saturday night.
The Warriors’ encounter with the Panthers will be their fifth home final in their history following Canberra in 2002, Parramatta in 2007, the Roosters in 2008 and Newcastle in 2023.
The Warriors have taken on Penrith three times in playoffs previously (2003, 2018 and 2023) while this will be the club’s 22nd finals match in all.
The rivals met only once during the regular season when the Panthers beat the Warriors 28-18 at Go Media Stadium in June.
Tickets will be on sale for all matches to the competing clubs’ ticketed members at 12.00pm NZT on Monday (September 8), followed by competing clubs’ non-ticketed members and NRL account holders at 4pm AEST on Monday.