Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020

The Warriors vs Cowboys clash in the NRL at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday sees the New Zealand side chasing a win that could lock in second place on the standings, with Mitchell Barnett returning to the lineup after State of Origin duty. The match matters as both teams push for late-season momentum in Round 16.

The Warriors come into this fixture after mixed form, including losses either side of a bye, but they receive a boost with Barnett back after limited Origin minutes. Kurt Capewell misses out, slightly reshaping their forward pack balance. The Cowboys arrive with confidence from recent performances and will look to test the Warriors’ defensive line early in front of a strong Christchurch crowd for the stadium’s first NRL game.

Kick-off is set for 2pm AEST, with both sides expected to bring high intensity as finals positioning tightens.

Internal coverage: NRL match centre
External updates: Official NRL live scores