Dates with the Dolphins on Anzac Day in Wellington and the Cowboys at Christchurch’s new indoor stadium are the two big features of the One New Zealand Warriors’ 2026 NRL draw.
The opponents for the two landmark home fixtures outside Auckland were confirmed today with the release of the draw for the club’s 32nd season in the competition.
After hosting Canberra and Newcastle in the first two years of their partnership with Christchurch, the Warriors will create history with the first NRL match in the city’s impressive One New Zealand Stadium when they meet the North Queensland Cowboys in round 16 on June 21.
Following home-based Anzac Day fixtures against the Gold Coast Titans in Auckland in 2024 and the Knights in Christchurch this year, the One New Zealand Warriors take the occasion to the Capital’s Sky Stadium where they'll mee the Dolphins.
Match: Warriors v Roosters
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Roosters
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The club launches its NRL season with back-to-back Friday night home games against top eight opponents at Go Media Stadium, the first against the Sydney Roosters on March 6 and the second against NRL minor premiers the Canberra Raiders on March 13.
“What a way to kick off the season with two huge Friday night home games against two of the competition’s top sides,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“Go Media Stadium will be pumping as we build on three seasons of wonderful support from our amazing fans. This is a great chance for us all to get together again, pack the place out and give the team the best possible start to the year.
“We’re especially excited about playing the Dolphins on such an important day in our first Anzac Day match in Wellington. And the first NRL game against the Cowboys at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch is going to be a fantastic occasion for everyone.”
See Warriors' 2026 NRL draw here
After three years of sustained sell-out crowds in New Zealand, more are anticipated as the Warriors head into a campaign which brings some of the NRL’s leading sides to Go Media Stadium. As well as the Roosters and the Raiders in the opening two rounds, the Warriors host the Sharks and Panthers in Auckland.
The draw has handed the Warriors a challenging opening phase to the season as they take on four of 2025’s top eight sides in the opening six rounds with back-to-back aways trips to meet the Sharks and then the Storm in rounds five and six.
Draw features:
- Historic Anzac Day match against the Dolphins in Wellington.
- Homes games against glamour clubs the Sydney Roosters (Rd 1, March 6), Canberra Raiders (Rd 2, March 13), Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (Rd 15, June 13) and the Penrith Panthers for the second year running (Rd 23, August 7).
- Season begins with two homes games (Roosters and Raiders) and ends with two home games (Knights and Sea Eagles).
- Warriors play 2025 top eight sides Broncos, Panthers and Sharks twice.
- Only one meeting against each of the other top eight sides the Roosters (home), Raiders (home), Storm (away) and Bulldogs (away).
- No away games again in Townsville or Canberra.
- First bye is round 10 (May 7-10), round 14 (June 4-17) and round 18 (July 2-5).
- First bye precedes ‘home’ game against ‘away’ team Brisbane in Magic Round.
- Teams played once:
Home | Roosters, Raiders, Cowboys, Sea Eagles.
Away | Storm, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs, Eels. - Teams played home and away:
Broncos, Dolphins, Dragons, Knights, Panthers, Sharks, Tigers, Titans. - Distance Warriors will travel: 60,682kn (NRL average: 24,776km).
NRL Draw |
Local times listed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.00pm Fri March 6 | Roosters | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 2 | 8.00pm Fri March 13 | Raiders | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 3 | 3.00pm Sat March 21 | Knights | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle |
| 4 | 8.00pm Fri March 27 | Tigers | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 5 | 2.00pm Sun April 5 | Sharks | PointsBet Stadium, Sydney |
| 6 | 7.30pm Sat April 11 | Storm | AAMI Park, Melbourne |
| 7 | 5.00pm Sat April 18 | Titans | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 8 | 8.05pm Sat April 25 | Dolphins | Sky Stadium, Wellington |
| 9 | 5.30pm Sat May 2 | Eels | CommBank Stadium, Sydney |
| 10 | Bye | ||
| 11 | 4.05pm Sun May 17 | Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 12 | 5.30pm Sat May 23 | Dragons | Jubilee Stadium, Sydney |
| 13 | 6.15pm Sun May 31 | Panthers | CommBank Stadium, Sydney |
| 14 | Bye | ||
| 15 | 7.30pm Sat June 13 | Sharks | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 16 | 4.00pm Sun June 21 | Cowboys | One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch |
| 17 | 3.00pm Sat June 27 | Dolphins | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 18 | Bye | ||
| 19 | 8.00pm Fri July 10 | Tigers | Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney |
| 20 | 7.30pm Sat July 18 | Dragons | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 21 | 5.30pm Sat July 25 | Bulldogs | Accor Stadium, Sydney |
| 22 | 3.00pm Sat August 1 | Titans | Cbus Super Stadium, Robina |
| 23 | 8.00pm Fri August 7 | Panthers | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 24 | 7.30pm Sat August 15 | Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 25 | 5.30pm Sat August 22 | Rabbitohs | Accor Stadium, Sydney |
| 26 | 4.00pm Sun August 30 | Knights | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| 27 | 5.00pm Sat September 5 | Sea Eagles | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
