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'This will be a record': Eden Park ready for Warriors finals takeover
Jaxin Daniels • September 15th, 2026 10:44 am
The Warriors training at Eden Park last year | Photo: Alan Lee / Photosport
Eden Park is preparing for a record rugby league crowd in New Zealand when the Warriors face the Newcastle Knights for their NRL elimination final on Sunday.
The Warriors’ first finals match at the venue has generated huge interest, with fans set to fill the stadium after the club’s loss to the Dolphins forced them into a longer route through the finals.
Over 20,000 tickets have been snapped up through first release for members, with the rest set to hit the market for the general public at 12pm, Tuesday.
“We're delighted to be hosting the fixture,” Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner said.
“The interest has been extraordinary. This will be a record for rugby league in New Zealand.”
Eden Park has worked closely with the Warriors to build an atmosphere supporters are used to at Go Media Stadium, with the outer oval opening from 1pm for ticket holders.
The area will feature food trucks, face painting and family activities, while the venue hopes the additional crowd can turn Eden Park into a Warriors fortress.
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“We've got a lot of respect for Mount Smart and what it's been able to achieve for the Warriors,” Sautner said.
“We want to make sure that Eden Park is a fortress for the Warriors.”
While the venue provides a different setting, Sautner believes the Warriors’ focus will remain unchanged.
“Their preparation doesn't change if it's at Mount Smart, Eden Park or Accor Stadium,” he said. “They're here to win and they come with a mindset of winning on the field.”
The match is also being viewed as an opportunity to grow rugby league, with the Warriors having regularly sold out their usual home ground.
“What we want to see is the growth of the game,” Sautner said.
The City Rail Link is expected to make getting to the stadium easier, with Sautner calling it “a game changer” for Eden Park events.
With a record crowd expected and the Warriors’ season on the line, Eden Park is set for one of the biggest rugby league occasions in New Zealand.
Listen to the full interview:
