The New Zealand Warriors’ 2026 NRL campaign has come to a heartbreaking end at Eden Park, falling 12-10 to the Newcastle Knights in a sudden-death finals clash.
The Warriors went into the break locked at 6-6, with little separating the two sides as both fought to keep their premiership hopes alive.
Newcastle struck early in the second half to take the advantage, forcing the Warriors to chase the game in front of their home supporters.
With around 10 minutes remaining, the Warriors finally found their way across the line out wide, cutting Newcastle’s advantage to just two points. But the difficult conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Knights ahead 12-10.
The Warriors threw everything at Newcastle in the closing stages but could not find the points needed to keep their season alive.
The result brings the curtain down on another campaign that generated huge support across Aotearoa, with Eden Park becoming the centre of attention for the club’s home elimination final.
For the Warriors and their supporters, attention will eventually turn towards 2027. For now, however, it is a painful finish — two points separating another week of finals football from the end of the road.
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