Warriors fan urges 'dirty tricks' against Penrith before do-or-die final in Auckland

A New Zealand Warriors supporter posted a list of suggested "dirty tricks" aimed at disrupting the Penrith Panthers ahead of their elimination final in Auckland on Saturday, prompting a mix of condemnation and humour among NRL fans.

The message, posted by a man identified as Sione Tuigamala in the "New Zealand Warriors Till I Die" Facebook group, urged supporters to make life uncomfortable for the Panthers while the team stayed in Auckland. The post recommended setting off fireworks, doing burnouts and screaming outside the Pullman Hotel between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., and bringing eggs to "egg the Panther coach box." A final suggestion, described as a "LAST RESORT," encouraged pitch invasions to interfere with the Panthers' attack if the Warriors were short on defence.

The Panthers' coach Ivan Cleary, who once played for and coached the Warriors, was singled out in the post. The Panthers enter the match seeking a fifth consecutive premiership after winning four straight titles, and the club beat the Warriors in New Zealand during last year's finals series.

The match is scheduled for Saturday at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, listed in the finals draw as the elimination final between the sixth-placed Warriors and seventh-placed Panthers with a 4:05 p.m. AEST kickoff. The first week of finals also includes Melbourne versus Canterbury on Friday night, Cronulla versus Sydney Roosters on Saturday evening and Canberra versus Brisbane on Sunday.

Reactions to the Facebook post were mixed. Some Panthers supporters condemned the suggestions, saying they would make the Warriors organisation look bad. "I honestly thought Warriors fans were better then that," one commenter wrote, while another said the tactics would make the franchise "look like little boys in a big boys game." Other readers saw the post as a joke. A Panthers fan replied that it was funny, and some joked that the suggested burnouts and donuts were more familiar to supporters from western Sydney and could make the travelling Panthers "feel right at home."

The social-media post is the latest example of heated rivalry culture around NRL finals football, where home-ground advantage and partisan crowds can play a role in a team's performance. The Warriors have home advantage for Saturday's match but face a Penrith side that has been dominant in recent seasons.

Police and venue security routinely work with clubs and fans to minimise disruptions during finals football, and any attempted pitch invasions or organised disruption would carry the risk of arrest and sanctions against individuals and potentially the hosting club. The post has drawn attention on social platforms in the days leading up to the elimination final, with supporters and rival fans discussing how far crowd behaviour should go in a high-stakes match.

As the teams prepare to meet, the on-field outcome will determine which club advances in the finals and which will head into end-of-season celebrations. The Warriors will seek to capitalise on home support, while the Panthers aim to extend one of the most successful runs in modern NRL history.