Finals schedule

[undertaker]

Home Venues Explained
Week One: Qualifying Finals & Elimination Finals
The highest qualifying teams after 26 Rounds will host each match at their normal home venue, with exception to any Sydney based NRL club which will play their 'home game' at either the Allianz Stadium or ANZ Stadium.

The following home City venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 1:

New South Wales / ACT:
Sydney: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium
Canberra: GIO Stadium
Newcastle: Hunter Stadium

Queensland:
Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium
Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
Townsville: 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria:
Melbourne: AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand:
Auckland: Mt Smart Stadium

Week Two: Semi Finals
The highest qualifying teams in each match (winners 3 & 4) will host in their home city.

The following home City venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 2:

New South Wales / ACT:
Sydney: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium
Canberra: GIO Stadium
Newcastle: Hunter Stadium

Queensland:
Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium
Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
Townsville: 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria:
Melbourne: AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand:
Auckland: Mt Smart Stadium

* A decision on which days both Finals will be played will be made following the completion of Week 1

Week Three: Preliminary Finals
The highest qualifying teams in each match (winners 1 & 2) will host in their home Region.

The following Regions and venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 3:

New South Wales/ACT Region (Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra):
Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium

Queensland:
South East Queensland Region (Brisbane, Gold Coast): Suncorp Stadium
North Queensland Region (Townsville): 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria Region (Melbourne):
AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand Region (Auckland):
Mt Smart Stadium, Eden Park


https://www.nrl.com/NRLHQ/ReferenceCentre/FinalsSystemExplained/tabid/10635/Default.aspx


How do Newcastle and Canberra get arse f**ked ?

ROFL at the MCG being listed as a potential venue for hosting a Storm week 1/2/3 final, when the Storm aren't even contemplating playing at Etihad Stadium since their first home preliminary final at AAMI Park in 2011.

And unlike the ANZ Stadium debacle this week, the AFL and MCC members would never allow the Storm to play matches at the MCG as they want the ground in mint condition for their own AFL finals matches (especially the Grand Final) and the domestic cricket season which follows shortly after the Grand Final (hence why the opening Australia vs England match in next year's RLWC couldn't be held at the MCG).

 

[catstorm]

As much as us Knights folk have loved to make fun of the Raiders and their fans in the past, I did mention this week 3 finals venue issue with other RL fans at university when home finals were extended into weeks 2/3 for the first time in 2007 (when the NRL released a sheet of the possible venues allowed for weeks 2 and 3), and thus sympathise with Raiders fans if they do beat the Sharks on Saturday night. And as has been mentioned, it will be a bigger joke if the Cowboys also win and they are allowed to play at 1300Smiles Stadium in week 3, yet Canberra will have to play at either ANZ or Allianz Stadium. How exactly is that fair, and why haven't the ARLC fixed this Gallop gaffe since their inception?

Newcastle have a larger stadium capacity (33,000) than 1300Smiles and AAMI Park , yet like the Raiders, would be made to play a 'home' preliminary final at either Allianz or ANZ Stadium, and possibly against the Roosters or Bulldogs at those venues. Now, I know it will be at least a few years before the Knights are ever in contention for this, let alone make the preliminary finals (given our abysmal form and poor playing squad), but yet this finals scenario is ANOTHER gross inconsistency with NRL management/ARLC that has caused frustration amongst the fans.

I think what doesn't work in the Knights favor is that hunter stadium is only 2/3 seated, having stadium with 10,000 of its capacity as standing room looks a bit amateurish for a Prelim final.

This ofcourse does not explain why GC and Canberra both miss out, though all fairness issues would be solved if NQ had to play at Suncorp they seem to be the elephant in the room.

 

[Stephen Durrant]

Home Venues Explained
Week One: Qualifying Finals & Elimination Finals
The highest qualifying teams after 26 Rounds will host each match at their normal home venue, with exception to any Sydney based NRL club which will play their 'home game' at either the Allianz Stadium or ANZ Stadium.

The following home City venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 1:

New South Wales / ACT:
Sydney: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium
Canberra: GIO Stadium
Newcastle: Hunter Stadium

Queensland:
Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium
Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
Townsville: 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria:
Melbourne: AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand:
Auckland: Mt Smart Stadium

Week Two: Semi Finals
The highest qualifying teams in each match (winners 3 & 4) will host in their home city.

The following home City venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 2:

New South Wales / ACT:
Sydney: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium
Canberra: GIO Stadium
Newcastle: Hunter Stadium

Queensland:
Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium
Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
Townsville: 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria:
Melbourne: AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand:
Auckland: Mt Smart Stadium

* A decision on which days both Finals will be played will be made following the completion of Week 1

Week Three: Preliminary Finals
The highest qualifying teams in each match (winners 1 & 2) will host in their home Region.

The following Regions and venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 3:

New South Wales/ACT Region (Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra):
Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium

Queensland:
South East Queensland Region (Brisbane, Gold Coast): Suncorp Stadium
North Queensland Region (Townsville): 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria Region (Melbourne):
AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand Region (Auckland):
Mt Smart Stadium, Eden Park


https://www.nrl.com/NRLHQ/ReferenceCentre/FinalsSystemExplained/tabid/10635/Default.aspx


How do Newcastle and Canberra get arse f**ked ?

Simply posting the NRL finals policy does not prove that it is fair policy. I know you are just taking the piss but all the same how is Sydney the home region of the Raiders given it is 300km away.

The team who has won in week 1 gets the home ground advantage in week 3 yet the Raiders have to take it Sydney and therefore no longer getting home ground advantage.

 

[Surely]

Simply posting the NRL finals policy does not prove that it is fair policy. I know you are just taking the piss but all the same how is Sydney the home region of the Raiders given it is 300km away.

The team who has won in week 1 gets the home ground advantage in week 3 yet the Raiders have to take it Sydney and therefore no longer getting home ground advantage.

Yep and Penrith and Cronulla wouldn't get a home ground advantage in any final let alone week 3

 

[Raiderdave]

Its the ARLC who take the $ from the finals crowds, so they get to play them wherever they like...

I dont consider it unfair that Newcastle/Canberra cant hold these matches (i think to call it "unfair" is very self indulgent, when did the universe promise this?) But it does seem dumb, as holding these matches in these locations would probably draw the biggest crowds.

Hahahahahahaha
Oh it's dumb alright.

And
Grossly unfair too.

And we wonder why the NRL is laughed at

 

[Stephen Durrant]

Yep and Penrith and Cronulla wouldn't get a home ground advantage in any final let alone week 3

You are right on that that aspect of the scheduling is also a little unfair however it is not in the same ballpark as forcing a team 300km out of Sydney in a different state to play their home game in Sydney.

 

[Raiderdave]

As much as us Knights folk have loved to make fun of the Raiders and their fans in the past, I did mention this week 3 finals venue issue with other RL fans at university when home finals were extended into weeks 2/3 for the first time in 2007 (when the NRL released a sheet of the possible venues allowed for weeks 2 and 3), and thus sympathise with Raiders fans if they do beat the Sharks on Saturday night. And as has been mentioned, it will be a bigger joke if the Cowboys also win and they are allowed to play at 1300Smiles Stadium in week 3, yet Canberra will have to play at either ANZ or Allianz Stadium. How exactly is that fair, and why haven't the ARLC fixed this Gallop gaffe since their inception?

Newcastle have a larger stadium capacity (33,000) than 1300Smiles and AAMI Park , yet like the Raiders, would be made to play a 'home' preliminary final at either Allianz or ANZ Stadium, and possibly against the Roosters or Bulldogs at those venues. Now, I know it will be at least a few years before the Knights are ever in contention for this, let alone make the preliminary finals (given our abysmal form and poor playing squad), but yet this finals scenario is ANOTHER gross inconsistency with NRL management/ARLC that has caused frustration amongst the fans.

Yep and Penrith and Cronulla wouldn't get a home ground advantage in any final let alone week 3

Again
For the 50th time
Their advantage is playing in their home city
We are potentially going to lose that advantage that we have earnt
Yet other teams will be not lose this huge advantage.

It'll be bad enough if we have to play the Bulldogs Sharks Penrith as a crowd will be drawn.

But If we have to play the Cowboys or Storm Titans Broncos in Sydney
Then officially
The NRL is run by utter Morons

 

[user_nat]

This ofcourse does not explain why GC and Canberra both miss out, though all fairness issues would be solved if NQ had to play at Suncorp they seem to be the elephant in the room.

Warriors and Storm are also outliers. They have larger grounds available to them and are not required to use them. Despite their regular grounds being comparable to Newcastle/Canberra/GC.

 

[Paullyboy]

I really hope the Raiders play the Cowboys in week 3 and a pathetic crowd turns out.

I'd love to hear the deathly silence from the NRL as they realise (all too late) that their idiotic, Sydney-centric thinking has cost them money and credibility as the rest of the country mocks a 4/5 empty stadium for a prelim final.

Unfortunately the clowns that run our game only learn when they're embarrassed into a reflex move. They have no forward thinking or proactivity and it's the only reason that the greatest game of all isn't the clear and away number 1 sport in this country.

 

[Raiderdave]

Ticketek site has crashed in Canberra.

 

[age.s]

Yep and Penrith and Cronulla wouldn't get a home ground advantage in any final let alone week 3

It's ludicrously stupid for us in week one too. What advantage do we get playing the dogs at Allianz? Should have sent our reserve team out against manly yesterday.

 

[Captain Apollo]

It's ludicrously stupid for us in week one too. What advantage do we get playing the dogs at Allianz? Should have sent our reserve team out against manly yesterday.

Well would you prefer them to have scheduled the game at ANZ Stadium then, which is the Bulldogs home ground? Sorry to say, but Pepper Stadium (just like Shark Park) was never going to be a venue for a finals match. Neither of them have decent corporate facilities, and it is those facilities the NRL want so they can capture the corporate dollar which they find far more lucrative.

 

[undertaker]

I think what doesn't work in the Knights favor is that hunter stadium is only 2/3 seated, having stadium with 10,000 of its capacity as standing room looks a bit amateurish for a Prelim final.

This ofcourse does not explain why GC and Canberra both miss out, though all fairness issues would be solved if NQ had to play at Suncorp they seem to be the elephant in the room.

the standing-room point doesn't matter, since Mt Smart Stadium and 1300Smiles also have hill areas on the north and southern ends of the ground, yet are eligible to host Preliminary Finals. At the same time, Hunter Stadium has a larger capacity than both of them, and still can't host. And to make matters worse, if that 'home' final was against the Bulldogs or Eels, 100% guarantee you that Greenberg would make sure the match was held at ANZ Stadium, which then in essence becomes a 'home' game for those teams and makes a joke of this whole 'home finals' concept of teams 1-2 getting a guaranteed 2 home games.

Pathetic that the NRL have allowed this inconsistency when home week 2/3 finals were introduced in 2007 during the Gallop era.

P.S. As someone else mentioned, Melbourne and NZ Warriors are not obliged to play their home preliminary final at the larger venues available in their cities; they can still play at AAMI Park and Mt Smart.

 

[GongPanther]

Well would you prefer them to have scheduled the game at ANZ Stadium then, which is the Bulldogs home ground? Sorry to say, but Pepper Stadium (just like Shark Park) was never going to be a venue for a finals match. Neither of them have decent corporate facilities, and it is those facilities the NRL want so they can capture the corporate dollar which they find far more lucrative.

And if the dumb-shit NSW government would have awarded the Panthers a new stadium,we would have had those facilities in the future.But of course,you have a big end of town government looking after the big end of town clubs for their facilities.

What they,the NRL and the NSW government,are doing,they are catering for those arseh0les who only go to the big end of season games.Just like those Wallaby wankers,you only see then during a test,but nowhere to be seen during the season.

And here we are,in our 50th year....50 years of getting screwed by the NSWRL and the NRL.

No fooking wonder the Queenslanders absolutely hate N.S.W.

 

[age.s]

Well would you prefer them to have scheduled the game at ANZ Stadium then, which is the Bulldogs home ground? Sorry to say, but Pepper Stadium (just like Shark Park) was never going to be a venue for a finals match. Neither of them have decent corporate facilities, and it is those facilities the NRL want so they can capture the corporate dollar which they find far more lucrative.

1. Penrith park is fine for a first week final. 21k screaming Panthers will blow the roof off. We hosted the Raiders there in 2010 and it was a fantastic night. I don't give a shit if the NRL makes a few extra $$ doing it this way, we deserve an advantage for finishing 6th. There's more to sport than money.

2. Yes ANZ would be way better than Allianz. You do realize ANZ is about an hour closer for most Penrith fans than Allianz right?

 

[PARRA_FAN]

You Panthers fans are probably hoping there's no trackwork on the weekend like that one time you played at Allianz but nothing will surprise me.

Glad the NRL made the right schedule in putting the Broncos/Titans on a Friday night, Storm/Cowboys on a Saturday when there's no AFL down there and Panthers/Bulldogs on a Sunday although Im not sure about the venue.

 

[undertaker]

Unfortunately the clowns that run our game only learn when they're embarrassed into a reflex move. They have no forward thinking or proactivity and it's the only reason that the greatest game of all isn't the clear and away number 1 sport in this country.

It's definitely not going to be 'clear and away number 1' with Greenberg as CEO.

 

[Timmah]

The guidelines are clearly set out well ahead of time but people will still complain...

 

[Raiderdave]

The guidelines are clearly set out well ahead of time but people will still complain...

The only thing that is clear is that the guidelines are ludicrous & only the NRL could come up with such a dogs breakfast of a policy.
Well ahead of time is no reason not to call the NRL on this farcical situation.

 

[Jamberoo]

Has the NRL given a reason why the Penrith game is not at ANZ?