The National Rugby League (NRL) has announced the schedule for the first week of the finals series, disregarding a request from the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for a home final at Shark Park in Cronulla. Despite the Sharks’ appeal, their week one final will not be held at their home ground. Conversely, both the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors will have their wishes granted and will host week one finals matches. The decision has likely sparked disappointment amongst Cronulla fans who were hoping to see their team compete on home soil. Further details regarding specific match times and opponents were not provided in the initial announcement. This scheduling decision highlights the complexities of balancing home ground advantage with logistical considerations within the NRL finals structure.