Getting Home NRL Final in Canberra a Huge Bonus for Toyota Cup Team

[Archie]

Finals clash in Canberra for Junior Warriors

The Junior Warriors will begin their 2012 NYC finals campaign with a second clash against the Raiders in as many weeks - only this time it will be in Canberra.

The back-to-back 2010-2011 NYC premiers beat Canberra 26-12 in today's final regular season match at Mount Smart Stadium yesterday.

The result left them level at the top of the table with Canterbury-Bankstown on 39 points but second on points for and against while Canberra ended up third on 36 points. Under this year's new finals formula the Bulldogs will play fourth-placed Wests Tigers while the Vodafone Junior Warriors (second) will meet Canberra (third).

The match has been scheduled for Canberra Stadium through the Raiders earning home advantage in week one of the NRL play-offs. With their 42-22 win over the Vodafone Warriors, the Raiders qualified sixth in the NRL finals and will meet Cronulla (seventh) in Canberra next Sunday. The NRL play-off kicks off at 4.00pm while the young Raiders will meet the Vodafone Junior Warriors at 1.30pm.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors, the only team to reach the finals in each of the NYC's five years in existence, will advance to week three of the finals if they beat Canberra next Sunday, leaving them just two wins away from winning the premiership for the third straight season.

The full schedule for next week's NRL and NYC finals is:

Friday, September 7
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Toyota Cup Elimination Final 1:
3.15pm: Penrith Panthers (5) v St George Illawarra Dragons (8 )
Toyota Cup Qualifying Final 1:
5.15pm: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (1) v Wests Tigers (4)
Telstra Premiership Qualifying Final 1:
7.45pm: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (1) v Manly Sea Eagles (4)

Saturday, September 8
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Toyota Cup Elimination Final 2:
3.15pm: South Sydney Rabbitohs (6) v Sydney Roosters (7)
Telstra Premiership Qualifying Final 2:
5.45pm: Melbourne Storm (2) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (3)

Saturday, September 8
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Telstra Premiership Elimination Final 1:
7.45pm: North Queensland Cowboys (5) v Brisbane Broncos (8 )

Sunday, September 9
Canberra Stadium
Toyota Cup Qualifying Final 2:
1.30pm: NZ Warriors (2) v Canberra Raiders (3)
Telstra Premiership Elimination Final 2:
4pm: Canberra Raiders (6) v Cronulla Sharks (7)

Source: http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=45400