Backing up a 2023 campaign which ended up being one of the best in club history will be no easy task for the Warriors, but Andrew Webster and co will be determined to prove it was no flash in the pan.
With an ANZAC Day game back in New Zealand this year and a home game taken to Christchurch, it's a different looking schedule for the Kiwi club who kick things off with five of their first eight games on home soil in 2024.
Teams they play twice
While they play home and away fixtures against four 2023 finals sides in the Sharks, Knights, Raiders and Storm, only the latter finished ahead of them on the ladder. They also see the Sea Eagles, Dolphins and Bulldogs twice throughout the year.
Teams they play once
Having to play the grand finalists from last year only once represents an early win on paper at least, with their clash against the Panthers coming during Magic Round when the Warriors will be the home team. The Broncos match-up comes in Auckland in Round 17 when Origin players will be backing up from Game Two. They also face the Rabbitohs, Dragons, Roosters, Cowboys, Eels and Wests Tigers once.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Thursday: 1 game (1 home, 0 away)
- Friday: 8 games (5 home, 3 away)
- Saturday: 9 games (3 home, 6 away)
- Sunday: 6 games (3 home, 3 away)
Turnaround time
- 5 days: 1 game
- 6 days: 4 games
- 7+ days: 18 games
Only the Rabbitohs have more 7+-day turnarounds than the Warriors, while significantly they also have just one game off a five-day turnaround. That comes in the lead-up to playing the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park on Friday in Round 24 after taking on the Dolphins in Queensland the Sunday prior.
Opening month
- Round 1: v Sharks (H)
- Round 2: v Storm (A)
- Round 3: v Raiders (H)
- Round 4: v Knights (H)
The Warriors have an intriguing first month which sees them play 2023 finals teams in all of their opening four games, but three of four come at home. In Round 2 they'll head to Melbourne for their first non-ANZAC Day trip to AAMI Park since 2015, followed by a game against the Raiders in Christchurch the next week and a rematch of last year's finals clash against the Knights in Auckland.
Magic Round
The Warriors have their sole regular season meeting with Penrith during Magic Round, after losing to them 18-6 in the corresponding fixture last year. The Kiwi outfit haven't had a Magic Round win since 2019 when they beat the Dragons.
State of Origin watch
Likely to be among the teams least impacted by Origin once again, they have a bye in Round 13 ahead of taking on a Cowboys side a week later who will likely have several players looking to back up from Origin I. The Warriors play the Titans in Round 16 when they will be without any of their representative contingent, before playing the Bulldogs three days after Game Two in Melbourne. They have another bye in Round 19 and then play Canberra on the Friday after Origin III, which will present an issue for anyone trying to back up 48 hours on from the interstate clash.
Can't miss game
Round 8 v Titans, Thursday at Go Media Stadium (H)
The players and club leaders have been asking for an ANZAC Day game on home soil and they get in in 2024 against the Titans, who they played the last time they hosted a game on this day of remembrance back in 2015. The occasion means it's a special game anyway, while it also marks the last of a four-game stretch the Warriors play against sides who finished outside the eight last year.
