The NRL has axed dilapidated Shark Park as a finals venue, forcing Cronulla to host their elimination final against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium.

Sunday’s draw announcement confirmed South Sydney would open the finals with a sudden-death clash against Newcastle at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

The Warriors have been permitted to host Saturday afternoon’s qualifying final against the Dolphins at traditional home Go Media Stadium, despite speculation of a move to larger Eden Park.

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Cronulla play the Cowboys on Saturday night, before minor premiers Penrith host the Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a qualifying final.

But the major talking point is the NRL’s decision to move away from Shark Park, where Cronulla have traditionally hosted week-one finals despite a meagre 15,000-seat capacity.

Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium opened in 2022 and fits almost three times as any fans, meaning an extra windfall for the NRL, which pockets gate takings from finals.

The Sharks most recently hosted a week-two semi-final at Allianz Stadium in 2024, coincidentally also against the Cowboys.

But Cronulla had been hopeful of hosting at Shark Park again for week one this year, despite the NRL’s pre-season warning of greater discretion in determining finals venues this year.

A move away from their home ground is another blow to a Cronulla side entering the finals with only one win from their past five games, all of which were against sides that missed the post-season.

Souths had no preference about hosting at Allianz or Accor Stadium, which will serve as their regular home grounds in 2027.

The Rabbitohs’ clash with the Knights marks the first time the NRL is opening their finals with an elimination game since 2016.

Given challenges posed by the Warriors’ time zone and Penrith needing longer than a five-day turnaround, the NRL had little choice but to begin the finals series with a knockout clash rather than a more traditional qualifying final.

NRL finals schedule

Friday, September 11

Elimination final: 6-South Sydney v 7-Newcastle, 7:50pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Saturday, September 12

Qualifying final: 2-Warriors v 3-Dolphins, 4:05pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Elimination final: 5-Cronulla v 8-North Queensland, 7:50pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Sunday, September 13

Qualifying final: 1-Penrith v 4-Sydney Roosters, 4:05pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney