Finals football is in focus for the eighth straight season for the Vodafone Junior Warriors as they count down to their NYC elimination final against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday (5.15pm kick-off local time; 7.15pm NZT).
The defending NYC premiers sealed seventh spot after the regular season with their 30-14 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown yesterday.
The Vodafone Warriors remain the only club to reach the competition’s finals every season since it started in 2008. During that time the club has reached the grand final four times, winning the title in 2010, 2011 and 2014.
Friday night’s encounter match will be the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 21st finals match. Of the 20 they have played so far they have won 15 and lost five.
The Kelvin Wright-coached side’s game against the sixth-placed Roosters will be the curtain-raiser to the NRL qualifying final between the minor premiership-winning Roosters and the Melbourne Storm.
The regular season NYC meetings between the Vodafone Junior Warriors and the Roosters were split with the away team winning on each occasion; the Roosters won 38-22 at Mount Smart Stadium on June 13 while the Vodafone Junior Warriors prevailed 42-20 at Allianz Stadium.
Also in finals action again this week will be the club’s Stacey Jones-coached New South Wales Cup side.
After losing their week one finals match against the Mounties on Saturday, the Vodafone Warriors take on Canterbury-Bankstown in an elimination play-off at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah next Sunday (6.10pm local time; 8.10pm NZT).
For information about tickets for the NRL finals visit www.nrl.com/tickets
NRL AND NYC FINALS SERIES
Friday, September 11
Allianz Stadium
NRL Qualifying Final: (1) Sydney Roosters v (4) Melbourne Storm, 7.55pm
NYC Elimination Final: (6) Sydney Roosters v (7) Vodafone Warriors, 5.15pm
Saturday, September 12
ANZ Stadium
NRL Elimination Final: (5) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v (8) St George Illawarra Dragons, 5.50pm
NYC Qualifying Final: (1) Penrith Panthers v (4) Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 3.10pm
Saturday, September 12
Suncorp Stadium
NRL Qualifying Final: (2) Brisbane Broncos v (3) North Queensland Cowboys, 7.55pm
NYC Qualifying Final: (2) Nth Queensland Cowboys v (3) Brisbane Broncos, 5.15pm
Sunday, September 13
Allianz Stadium
NRL Elimination Final: (6) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v (7) South Sydney Rabbitohs, 4.10pm
NYC Qualifying Final: (5) Wests Tigers v (8) Canberra Raiders, 1.30pm
NEW SOUTH WALES CUP FINALS SERIES
Sunday, September 13
Jubilee Oval
Semi Final: (3) Penrith Panthers v (7) Newcastle Knights, 4.00pm (winners to play Mounties in week three)
Semi-final: (4) Vodafone Warriors v (5) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 6.10pm (winners to play Wyong in week three)
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS – NYC FINALS RECORD
2008
St George Illawarra | Won 47-20
Penrith | Won 38-4
Brisbane | Lost 26-28
2009
St George Illawarra | Lost 24-48
2010
Manly | Won 25-22
Canterbury-Bankstown | Won 23-16
South Sydney | Won 42-28 (grand final)
2011
Newcastle | Won 54-6
Canterbury-Bankstown | Won 64-0
North Queensland | Won 31-30 (grand final)
2012
Canberra | Lost 38-39
Sydney Roosters | Lost 10-26
2013
South Sydney | Won 20-18
Sydney Roosters | Won 58-6
Canterbury-Bankstown | Won 54-38
Penrith | Lost 30-42 (grand final)
2014
Sydney Roosters | Won 44-30
Newcastle | Won 23-16
Parramatta | Won 29-26
Brisbane | Won 34-32 (grand final)
