The Warriors will make history when they host their first NRL final at Eden Park after the governing body announced the venue for the club’s elimination final.
The NRL confirmed the Warriors would play Newcastle at Eden Park next Sunday at 6:05pm (4:05pm AEST) in week two of the finals.
The Warriors’ first preference is to play at Mt Smart Stadium where their support is through the roof.
Eden Park holds 50,000 people, however, and is a more modern stadium compared to Mt Smart, where a sold-out crowd of 26,131 created a cauldron-like atmosphere in the Warriors’ 26-16 loss to the Dolphins in Saturday night’s qualifying final.
The Warriors have hosted five finals in their history in Auckland, but all at Mt Smart.
The Warriors have injury concerns ahead of the clash with the Knights, who they beat 46-32 in Auckland in round 25.
They lost strike centre Leka Halasima in the warm-up to the Dolphins clash with the Tonga international clutching at his right leg.
“It was a hamstring in the warm-up, nothing related to what he’s been having, which was an ankle injury,” coach Andrew Webster said.
“He just felt his hamstring in the first stride out and reported it straight away. Yeah, couldn’t go.
“I don’t know any more than that right now.”
Halasima is set to miss the Newcastle clash amid fears that prop Jackson Ford’s injury comeback will be short-lived.
Ford, on return after a 12-week pectoral tear lay-off, limped off against the Dolphins with an ankle complaint.
“Not good,” Webster said, when asked about the nature of the injury.
“We don’t know much more.”
The Warriors were never in full cry in attack against the Dolphins, with five penalty goals edging them to a 16-8 lead, but also denying them the chance near the opposition tryline to perhaps put the game to bed.
“We didn’t get the opportunity to get a flow in to our attack,” Webster said.
“That’s the negative side of taking the penalty goals. But to stretch the lead out to eight points, we had to do it. It’s a no-brainer.
“The negative side is there, but the eight-point gap is what every team should take.”
Webster said the Warriors were in a strong position when leading 12-8 at half-time, but were unable to contain Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth in particular as their tackles failed to stick.
“We were trying so hard … chasing contact and collision, and they were pinballing. We have to be more efficient next week.”
AAP
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