Warriors fans urged to target Panthers' hotel and coach before Auckland final

Supporters of the New Zealand Warriors circulated a social media post urging disruptive behaviour aimed at the Penrith Panthers ahead of the teams' elimination final in Auckland on Saturday.

A post published in the Facebook group "New Zealand Warriors Till I Die" by a user identifying himself as Sione Tuigamala suggested a series of actions intended to unsettle the visiting Panthers. The post named the Pullman Hotel as the likely Panthers accommodation and encouraged fireworks, burnouts and loud noise between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on the morning of the match. It also urged fans to bring eggs to the stadium to "egg the Panther coach box" and included a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that supporters could attempt pitch invasions if the home side needed extra defenders.

The Panthers, who are seeking a fifth consecutive premiership, arrive in Auckland with a recent history of success against the Warriors, including a win in New Zealand during last season's finals series. The elimination final is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. AEST at Go Media Stadium; the loser will be eliminated and the winner will progress in the NRL finals.

The post addressed Warriors supporters as "whanau" and closed with the line "Everything goes this Saturday, any questions, DM me." It specifically referenced Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, a former Warriors player and coach, and Penrith captain Nathan Cleary, who has been central to the Panthers' premiership run.

Reactions to the post on social media were mixed. Some Panthers fans condemned the suggestions as childish and unbecoming, saying the tactics would reflect poorly on the Warriors franchise. Others treated the post as satire or banter, with several commenters on both sides of the rivalry responding with humour. A number of fans noted that the proposed activities would mirror behaviours common in some Australian supporter groups.

The Warriors and Panthers meet in a do-or-die fixture that carries immediate consequences: the loser will head straight into end-of-season celebrations while the winner stays alive in the finals. The NRL fixture list for finals week one also includes Melbourne v Canterbury on Friday and Cronulla v Sydney Roosters on Saturday evening.

Stadium and local authorities enforce codes of conduct and security measures at NRL fixtures. Organisers routinely warn that disruptive activity such as fireworks, vehicular burnouts and pitch invasions can lead to ejection from the venue, penalties, and potential legal consequences for individuals who breach public order or safety laws. Neither the Warriors nor the Panthers issued an immediate comment on the social media post.

The post is the latest example of intense fan rivalry in the NRL, where home-ground advantage and local supporter culture can introduce a volatile atmosphere to finals matches. The Warriors will aim to harness that support at Go Media Stadium as they attempt to eliminate a Penrith side that has dominated recent seasons, while the Panthers will seek to silence the crowd and continue their pursuit of another premiership.