After sellout crowds for their NRL preseason and regular season matches in Christchurch this year, the NZ Warriors will make more history by taking their Anzac Day fixture to the Garden City next season.
The Warriors' full draw was released on Thursday, confirming they will face the Newcastle Knights in Round 8 at Apollo Projects Stadium on April 25.
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It is the second year of the Warriors’ three-year partnership with Christchurch, with the third match next year scheduled to be played in the new One New Zealand Stadium (Te Kaha).
“We’re so excited to confirm our Anzac Day game in Christchurch next year,” said Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“We saw how much the fans from the city and surrounding areas got behind the One New Zealand Warriors for our trial against the Tigers and then our NRL match against the Raiders this year. The same happened again last month when the Kiwis played the Kangaroos.
“With Anzac Day falling on Friday, we’d anticipate even more fans travelling from out of town to make the most of the long weekend. It’s going to be a terrific occasion.”
Next season will be the second season running and just the third time in history that the Warriors have staged their Anzac Day game in New Zealand; the first two (in 2015 and 2024) both involved the Gold Coast Titans at Go Media Stadium.
Moving the match to Christchurch adds even further lustre to a season that marks the 30th anniversary of the Warriors’ introduction to the competition on March 10, 1995.
Just as the original Auckland Warriors blazed a trail that night, so too will the Warriors this year when, just nine days short of the 30th anniversary, they break new ground by playing a game in the United States for the first time.
That comes with their Las Vegas 2025 season opener against the Canberra Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on March 1, kicking off a campaign rich in features, not least the return of the club’s NRLW side, which will be involved in four double-headers with the NRL team.
Apart from the Las Vegas venture and the Anzac Day match, another highlight is confirmation the four-times premiership-winning Penrith Panthers will make a rare trip to Auckland, their first visit in six years.
NZ WARRIORS' 2025 NRL DRAW
Round 1: vs Canberra Raiders, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Saturday, March 1, 4pm
Round 2: vs Manly Sea Eagles, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Friday, March 14, 8pm
Round 3: vs Sydney Roosers, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Friday, March 21, 8pm
Round 4: vs Wests Tigers, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney, Sunday, March 30, 6.15pm
Round 5: April 3-6 Bye
Round 6: vs Melbourne Storm, AAMI Park, Melbourne, Sunday, April 13, 2pm
Round 7: vs Brisbane Broncos, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Saturday, April 19, 7.30pm
Round 8: vs Newcastle Knights, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, Friday, April 25, 8pm
Round 9: vs NQ Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday, May 3, 5.30pm
Round 10: vs SGI Dragons, WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Saturday, May 10, 5.30pm
Round 11: vs Redcliffe Dolphins, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday, May 17, 3pm
Round 12: vs Canberra Raiders, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Sunday, May 25, 6.05pm
Round 13: vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Accor Stadium, Sydney, Sunday, June 1, 2pm
Round 14: vs Cronulla Sharks, Shark Stadium, Sydney, Saturday, June 7, 5.30pm
Round 15: June 12-15 Bye
Round 16: vs Penrith Panthers, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Saturday, June 21, 5pm
Round 17: vs Brisbane Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday, June 28, 3pm
Round 18: July 3-6 Bye
Round 19: vs Wests Tigers, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Sunday, July 13, 4pm
Round 20: vs Newcastle Knights, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Sunday, July 20, 4pm
Round 21: vs Gold Coast Titans, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Saturday, July 26, 5pm
Round 22: vs Redcliffe Dolphins, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Friday, August 1, 8pm
Round 23: vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Accor Stadium, Sydney, Saturday, August 9, 7.35pm
Round 24: vs STI Dragons, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Friday, August 15, 8pm
Round 25: vs Gold Coast Titans, Cbus Super Stadium, Robina, Saturday, August 23, 5.30pm
Round 26: vs Parramatta Eels, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, Friday, August 29, 8pm
Round 27: vs Manly Sea Eagles, 4 Pines Park, Sydney, Friday, September 5, 6pm