NRL is slammed for making young fans stay up until MIDNIGHT to watch their team’s finals match: ‘This is a monumental moment for the game’

The NRL is under pressure over its preliminary finals schedule that will force New Zealand fans to stay up until midnight to attend their team’s preliminary final against the Brisbane Broncos.

The Warriors were forced to stay out of New Zealand for the better part of three seasons due to the Covid pandemic, with the NSW Central Coast and Redcliffe in Queensland being their home.

Back at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in 2023, the Warriors were the darlings of the NRL season.

Favorite son Shaun Johnson returned home and found the best form of his career. The Warriors climbed to a top-four finish and now have a real shot at a grand final and a first NRL premiership.

It was a major boost for New Zealand’s football-loving community, with the slogan ‘up the Wahs’ adopted by thousands of long-suffering and new supporters.

Supporters will have to stay up late to watch their side in the preliminary final against the Brisbane Broncos, with kick-off scheduled for almost 10pm NZST

Although the Warriors are the feel-good story of the winter, the governing body did them no favors by not changing the kick-off time for Saturday’s match with the Broncos to bring the kick-off time forward.

With the two-hour time difference between the east coast of Australia and New Zealand, the 7.50pm AEST kick-off means viewers on the Shaky Isles will be up very late to catch all the action.

Senior footy journalist David Riccio said it was a failed opportunity to get maximum value for the game from the Warriors’ rising popularity.

“We need to understand what is happening in New Zealand in terms of the growth of the game,” Riccio said on SEN.

The first Warriors final in Australia this season was against Penrith and an earlier kick-off was arranged so Kiwi fans could watch at a decent hour

‘It is unprecedented interest in the Warriors and overarching is the NRL. The brand is making a breakthrough like we’ve never seen in the NRL.

“If we get into discussions about a second team in New Zealand and potentially bringing a State of Origin match to New Zealand, you have to take advantage of every important opportunity that comes your way, and that’s right now.

“There is a groundswell of momentum with novice supporters of the game buying tickets to see the Warriors play.

“You can’t buy a jersey in New Zealand, so the NRL had to adjust and adjust the kick-off time to accommodate this moment.

“This is a monumental moment for the game in terms of the growth of the game… It’s too late now and it should have been changed and it should have been predicted in advance.”

The Warriors got an afternoon kick-off in their first final against Penrith in Australia and an early kick-off when they returned home to play Newcastle in week two.

But they have not been given any concessions in Brisbane for the preliminary final, despite the success of the afternoon start times.

“The TV ratings were strong and the crowds were big at each of those (4pm) kick-offs in New Zealand, at 6pm,” Riccio said.

‘There is no indication that moving this Saturday evening two hours earlier would have a major impact on one, the audience, and two, on the viewing figures.

‘I’d say it would have a bigger impact on the ratings in New Zealand.

“It’s a big missed opportunity to start this game at 10 o’clock so the game ends at midnight… and the kids stay up until midnight to watch the Warriors.”

The decision has also been rejected by Warriors supporters.

“It should be more like the Warriors aren’t there. Ridiculous that the kickoff time is determined by a sub-par TV network when everyone loves the afternoon kickoff for the girlfriend,” one person wrote.

Although many remain optimistic no matter what time the kick-off is.

“Let’s not worry too much about kickoff, Warriors fans. After all, we’ll have to get used to the late nights leading up to the grand final,” said another.