Warriors moved to Eden Park for Knights finals showdown

The New Zealand Warriors have rescheduled their elimination final against the Newcastle Knights to Eden Park after losing in the first week of finals. The Warriors, who suffered a defeat to the Dolphins on Saturday, initially preferred to play at their home ground, Mt Smart Stadium. However, Eden Park, with its larger capacity of 50,000, has been chosen as the venue.

The match is set to take place next Sunday at 6:05pm local time (4:05pm AEST). This will mark a significant moment for the Warriors, as they will be hosting an NRL final for the first time at Eden Park. The governing body confirmed the venue for the club's elimination final in week two of the finals. The Warriors would have preferred to play at Mt Smart Stadium, where fan support is strong; however, Eden Park, being a more modern stadium, was selected due to its larger capacity.

The Warriors have five finals titles in their history in Auckland, all of which have been hosted at Mt Smart. The Warriors are currently dealing with injury concerns heading into the Knights clash. Striker Leka Halasima was injured during a warm-up and is unlikely to play, while prop Jackson Ford, returning after a 12-week pectoral tear lay-off, was dealt an ankle injury.

Both injuries have raised concerns about the Warriors' ability to perform at their best. Coach Andrew Webster highlighted the Warriors' attack issues, stating that they failed to generate the necessary flow towards the opposition's tryline. The Warriors had a 12-8 halftime lead but struggled to contain Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth, who managed to escape tackles. The team will need to improve their efficiency in the upcoming match.