LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
NRL fans are divided over a "strange" detail as the Week 1 finals schedule is announced.
The league has broken tradition by scheduling the Panthers-Warriors match at 4pm on Saturday afternoon instead of the usual prime time slot.
This change ensures that Warriors fans in New Zealand can watch the game at a reasonable hour, as a 7.50pm start would have meant it finishing around midnight for them.
The Broncos and Storm will now play on Friday night in a rematch of their previous encounter in round 27.
This is the first time since 2019 that the 1 v 4 game hasn't been the first match of the finals.
The NRL's decision to prioritize the Warriors' fans and their difficult circumstances during the pandemic is seen as a fair move by some, while others find it strange that the Panthers and Warriors have been relegated to the afternoon slot.
The first week of the finals also features matches between Newcastle and the Raiders, and the Sharks and the Roosters, which adds a master v apprentice dynamic with Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon facing off against his former mentor Trent Robinson.