The Vodafone Junior Warriors begin their record seventh consecutive NYC finals campaign against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
The Stacey Jones-coached side edged into eighth place after halfback Mason Lino calmly kicked a side-line conversion for a last-gasp 18-18 draw with Penrith last night.
It meant both teams finished on 29 points but the Vodafone Junior Warriors claimed the last finals berth with a superior points for and against differential. No other club has featured in the NYC finals every season since the competition's inception in 2008.
The fifth-placed Roosters ended their regular season campaign on 35 points.
In the only regular season encounter between the two sides, the Roosters stole a late 20-18 win over the Vodafone Junior Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium last month.
Saturday night’s elimination final between the two clubs is one of two NYC play-offs scheduled for Allianz Stadium ahead of the NRL qualifying final between the minor premiers the Sydney Roosters and Penrith (5.50pm local time; 7.50pm NZT).
The schedule for week one of the 2014 NRL and NYC finals series is:
FRIDAY
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
NRL: (2) Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v (3) South Sydney Rabbitohs, 7.55pm
NYC: (2) Brisbane Broncos v (3) Parramatta Eels (subject to stadium confirmation), 3.15pm
(6) Wests Tigers v (7) South Sydney Rabbitohs, 5.15pm
SATURDAY
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
NRL: (1) Sydney Roosters v (4) Penrith Panthers, 5.50pm
NYC: (1) Newcastle Knights v (4) St George Illawarra Dragons (subject to stadium confirmation), 1.00pm
(5) Sydney Roosters v (8) Vodafone Warriors, 3.00pm
1300Smiles Stadium, Townsville
NRL: (5) North Queensland Cowboys v (8) Brisbane Broncos, 7.55pm
SUNDAY
AAMI Park, Melbourne
NRL: (6) Melbourne Storm v (7) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 4.10pm
Tickets for week one of the NRL finals series went on sale today for ticketed members only.
For the first time, ticketed members of the competing NRL teams will be rewarded for their club loyalty with a special member’s discount.
Tickets for all fans go on sale from 10am tomorrow (Tuesday, September 9).
Tickets are available from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com.au/nrlfinals
All NRL finals series information is available at www.nrl.com/finals
