LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
The NZ Warriors aim for a second consecutive Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) grand final appearance, facing South Sydney in a preliminary final at Redfern Oval on Sunday at 11:00 am local time (1:00 pm NZT).
The Warriors made an impressive debut last year, sneaking into the playoffs and winning the premiership.
This season, they qualified comfortably by finishing third in the regular season and defeating the second-placed Sydney Roosters 20-4 in their first playoff match.
In contrast, the Rabbitohs, who finished seventh, have made a strong playoff run, eliminating the sixth-placed Sea Eagles 18-14 and the minor premiers, Illawarra Steelers, by the same score in their subsequent matches.
Despite their top-four finish, the Warriors won't have home ground advantage in the Harold Matthews competition and must play at the Rabbitohs' venue.