September 8, 2025 • 9 mins
Warriors boss Cameron George's calling the scheduling for their week one finals match a missed opportunity from the NRL.
He's confirmed they asked officials for their home clash against the Panthers to be kept away from the Saturday night timeslot - to avoid a clash with the All Blacks test against South Africa.
Cameron George joined Piney to discuss further.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb SO.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The NRL's playoff schedule has raised a number of questions
about disregard or playing ignorance of New Zealand sports fans.
The Warriors will host the Panthers on Saturday night at six.
The All Black Second Test against the spring Box kicks
off at seven. Elsewhere, the Storm will play the Bulldogs
on Friday night. The Sharks face the Roosters in the
(00:34):
late game on Saturday, and then on Sunday it's Canberra
playing host to the Broncos. Warriors CEO Cam George is
with us on sports Talk Cam. Thanks for your time.
How much of a disappointment is this scheduling clash on Saturday?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Look, it's not ideal, but the reality is is you know,
we asked the question, we threw up some options and
I understand you know, through the broadcasters in Australia that
you know, the timeslot that's been provided to us now
is the one was preferred and for their own reasons.
But look it's you know, at the end of the day,
(01:11):
it is what it is, and we're just focused on
the weekend's game.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So, just to clarify, you went to the NRL ahead
of Finals weekend and asked to be kept away from
the seven o'clock Saturday night slot where the All Blacks
are playing.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, I felt the game had a great opportunity here
for us to you know, get the time slot or
have a time slot that led into the All Blacks game,
so all New Zealanders could watch, you know, a great
afternoon of sport, cheering on both the one New Zealand
Warriors and the mighty All Blacks. And I thought, what
(01:46):
a great thing for New Zealand, what a great thing
for rugby league that it could be a part of
a you know, a four hour extravaganza of that nature
on TV in two major cities. However, that's not how
the powers to be saw that. And you know, we'll
get that six o'clock kickoff, and I think I understand
(02:08):
the All Blacks kickoff around seventy, so there'll be an
hour there. But ideally, it would have been better if
it just had two hours to ourselves and then two
hours for the All Blacks and let all the all
the sports fans and people in this country watch it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We would have loved that that would have been the
perfect Saturday afternoon from from five right through to nine
or whenever it is, so five o'clock here would have
been three o'clock in Australia for your kickoff under what
you proposed. They just weren't willing to budge on on
that they weren't at home to a three o'clock in
the afternoon kickoff on the Australian Eastern seaboard.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
That's my understanding. Yeah, so look, once I understood it
or found out about it, you know, our focus is
just got to get on with it now. And but
I feel like, yeah, there's been a missed opportunity there
for the game in New Zealand. So but anyway, that's
that's what it is, mate. We've just got to get
on with it now. And you know, we wish you
(03:05):
all Blacks all best and we'll tune in and watch
them after after we have a good game ourselves.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
In your experience camera are the NRL open two discussions
like this and to know this time, but would you
go into conversations like this in the future with optimism
or not?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah? I do like to be fair to them. They
have that many balls in the air around requests broadcast
and other restrictions as well, and you know it's a
balancing act, no doubt. However, I have no doubt in
speaking to the appropriate people in the n r L
and when need be to do what's best for our
(03:47):
game in the fan base in New Zealand's that's my
holy and solely focus where the NRL have got many
of others, but you know, won't stop me in the
future for you know, try to do what we can do.
But at the end of the day, it is what
it is and you're just going to move on.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
It's on a weekend like those finals week one of
the NRL when there are four games, four time slots
Friday night, a couple on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Is there a pecking order for the most attractive game,
the one that they want to put the most attractive
game and to get the most viewers if you get
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
I think there's a number of things. You know, Friday
Night wasn't going to work for us because you know,
the free to wear broadcast in Australia is that of
an eight o'clock kickoff on the Eastern Australian Eastern Standard
time and it'll be a ten o'clock kickoff here, So
that's red cross that one. The Saturday afternoon one was
(04:43):
our preferred option, but I also understand the Wallabies play
Saturday afternoon too somewhere, So whether there's a class with
free to wear broadcasters with that and then Saturday night,
well we just wanted to stay away from that for
obvious reason. And Sunday, I understand camera we're desperate to
(05:04):
get their hands on Sunday due to the the turnaround
from last week's Sunday game to this week's game. So,
as I said, there's a many variables. What's the best
time slot, what's the best class for each time slot
is purely out of my hands. I just go into
bat what's the best option for our club and let
the NRL determine what is when they sit at the table.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
All right, well, let's decide it. Now. You've got six
o'clock on Saturday and it won't stop it from selling out.
You'll sell this one out, massive crowd and coming for
your first finals game of twenty twenty five. What is
the ticket situation? Presumably members have got earlier access than others.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, today at twelve o'clock. Members have the opportunity to
buy their tickets up until six o'clock tonight, where then
it goes to the broader membership base and then public tomorrow.
So yeah, it's full on. There's plenty of interest. They're
running out the door, so if you're in rested, certainly
(06:08):
be ready to go as soon as as soon as
the tickets become available to the public, which you know
is after the members get their exclusive period.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Big game cam Penrith Panthers, full time defending champions, tough
game and weekend one of the finals. But I guess
they kind of all, aren't they at this time of
the season.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Well, I think it's great that we're playing Penrith. I think,
you know, stepping into a full time premiership winning team
club is a good thing for us, you know, So
we're not we're not scared of that. We're excited by
it as a whole club too, not just the players
but the staff and it's going to be a great
event and you know, Penrith a lot of respect for them,
(06:49):
but at the end of the day, they're a footy
team and so are we, and we're a footy club
and we want to win so I was up at
training this morning. The boys are feeling fresh and they're
excited about the opportunity to play for our fans in
the in the final series. How great is that? It's
where you want to be and we're there, so we're
not worried about who's in front of us, We're worried
(07:10):
about ourselves.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah. Well we're looking forward to Saturday night. I guess
most people will at six o'clock tune in for your game,
and then they'll have a decision to make once seven
o'clock rolls around. I know a lot of people double
screen so the way, but a double screening going on,
no doubt on Saturday night as well.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
What they could go to full time? When we've got
thirty seven meters of screens there they can watch.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
It all all right. Well maybe that's a good idea
for those in Auckland. Cam, good to hear from you,
eight thanks for joining the show. Cam George CEO of
the Warry is I think he's fairly philosophical about the
whole thing, isn't he He might be philosophical, But the
only conclusion I can possibly draw from this is that
the NRL don't care at all about the New Zealand
sports fan. If they did, they would have taken Cam
(07:54):
George's plan and rubbing it. Warry is at five on Saturday.
Then we could all watch that and then the All
Blacks at seven. A heck of a lot of people
are going to want to watch both. Now now that becomes
problematic because the All Blacks kicks off an hour after
the Warriors. Yes you can double screen, of course if
(08:14):
you've got that capability, but it's not ideal. And I
asked myself, what earthly reason would the NRL have not
to move kickoff back by one hour. That's what they're
asking one hour. It's not of the Warriors are saying,
hey we want to kick off at one in the afternoon.
(08:34):
They've asked to have the kickoff moved by an hour
from six to five. It's also pretty typical of the NRL.
I have to say. They believe they are the be
all and end all of sport in this part of
the world. And I know, of course they're not duty
bound to consider any other sports, but this just smacks
(08:55):
of not wanting to budge on something which they easily
could have been flexible on.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
For more from Sports Talk listen lived and news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekday, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb SO.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The NRL's playoff schedule has raised a number of questions
about disregard or playing ignorance of New Zealand sports fans.
The Warriors will host the Panthers on Saturday night at six.
The All Black Second Test against the spring Box kicks
off at seven. Elsewhere, the Storm will play the Bulldogs
on Friday night. The Sharks face the Roosters in the
(00:34):
late game on Saturday, and then on Sunday it's Canberra
playing host to the Broncos. Warriors CEO Cam George is
with us on sports Talk Cam. Thanks for your time.
How much of a disappointment is this scheduling clash on Saturday?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Look, it's not ideal, but the reality is is you know,
we asked the question, we threw up some options and
I understand you know, through the broadcasters in Australia that
you know, the timeslot that's been provided to us now
is the one was preferred and for their own reasons.
But look it's you know, at the end of the day,
(01:11):
it is what it is, and we're just focused on
the weekend's game.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So, just to clarify, you went to the NRL ahead
of Finals weekend and asked to be kept away from
the seven o'clock Saturday night slot where the All Blacks
are playing.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, I felt the game had a great opportunity here
for us to you know, get the time slot or
have a time slot that led into the All Blacks game,
so all New Zealanders could watch, you know, a great
afternoon of sport, cheering on both the one New Zealand
Warriors and the mighty All Blacks. And I thought, what
(01:46):
a great thing for New Zealand, what a great thing
for rugby league that it could be a part of
a you know, a four hour extravaganza of that nature
on TV in two major cities. However, that's not how
the powers to be saw that. And you know, we'll
get that six o'clock kickoff, and I think I understand
(02:08):
the All Blacks kickoff around seventy, so there'll be an
hour there. But ideally, it would have been better if
it just had two hours to ourselves and then two
hours for the All Blacks and let all the all
the sports fans and people in this country watch it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We would have loved that that would have been the
perfect Saturday afternoon from from five right through to nine
or whenever it is, so five o'clock here would have
been three o'clock in Australia for your kickoff under what
you proposed. They just weren't willing to budge on on
that they weren't at home to a three o'clock in
the afternoon kickoff on the Australian Eastern seaboard.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
That's my understanding. Yeah, so look, once I understood it
or found out about it, you know, our focus is
just got to get on with it now. And but
I feel like, yeah, there's been a missed opportunity there
for the game in New Zealand. So but anyway, that's
that's what it is, mate. We've just got to get
on with it now. And you know, we wish you
(03:05):
all Blacks all best and we'll tune in and watch
them after after we have a good game ourselves.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
In your experience camera are the NRL open two discussions
like this and to know this time, but would you
go into conversations like this in the future with optimism
or not?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah? I do like to be fair to them. They
have that many balls in the air around requests broadcast
and other restrictions as well, and you know it's a
balancing act, no doubt. However, I have no doubt in
speaking to the appropriate people in the n r L
and when need be to do what's best for our
(03:47):
game in the fan base in New Zealand's that's my
holy and solely focus where the NRL have got many
of others, but you know, won't stop me in the
future for you know, try to do what we can do.
But at the end of the day, it is what
it is and you're just going to move on.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
It's on a weekend like those finals week one of
the NRL when there are four games, four time slots
Friday night, a couple on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Is there a pecking order for the most attractive game,
the one that they want to put the most attractive
game and to get the most viewers if you get
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
I think there's a number of things. You know, Friday
Night wasn't going to work for us because you know,
the free to wear broadcast in Australia is that of
an eight o'clock kickoff on the Eastern Australian Eastern Standard
time and it'll be a ten o'clock kickoff here, So
that's red cross that one. The Saturday afternoon one was
(04:43):
our preferred option, but I also understand the Wallabies play
Saturday afternoon too somewhere, So whether there's a class with
free to wear broadcasters with that and then Saturday night,
well we just wanted to stay away from that for
obvious reason. And Sunday, I understand camera we're desperate to
(05:04):
get their hands on Sunday due to the the turnaround
from last week's Sunday game to this week's game. So,
as I said, there's a many variables. What's the best
time slot, what's the best class for each time slot
is purely out of my hands. I just go into
bat what's the best option for our club and let
the NRL determine what is when they sit at the table.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
All right, well, let's decide it. Now. You've got six
o'clock on Saturday and it won't stop it from selling out.
You'll sell this one out, massive crowd and coming for
your first finals game of twenty twenty five. What is
the ticket situation? Presumably members have got earlier access than others.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, today at twelve o'clock. Members have the opportunity to
buy their tickets up until six o'clock tonight, where then
it goes to the broader membership base and then public tomorrow.
So yeah, it's full on. There's plenty of interest. They're
running out the door, so if you're in rested, certainly
(06:08):
be ready to go as soon as as soon as
the tickets become available to the public, which you know
is after the members get their exclusive period.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Big game cam Penrith Panthers, full time defending champions, tough
game and weekend one of the finals. But I guess
they kind of all, aren't they at this time of
the season.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Well, I think it's great that we're playing Penrith. I think,
you know, stepping into a full time premiership winning team
club is a good thing for us, you know, So
we're not we're not scared of that. We're excited by
it as a whole club too, not just the players
but the staff and it's going to be a great
event and you know, Penrith a lot of respect for them,
(06:49):
but at the end of the day, they're a footy
team and so are we, and we're a footy club
and we want to win so I was up at
training this morning. The boys are feeling fresh and they're
excited about the opportunity to play for our fans in
the in the final series. How great is that? It's
where you want to be and we're there, so we're
not worried about who's in front of us, We're worried
(07:10):
about ourselves.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah. Well we're looking forward to Saturday night. I guess
most people will at six o'clock tune in for your game,
and then they'll have a decision to make once seven
o'clock rolls around. I know a lot of people double
screen so the way, but a double screening going on,
no doubt on Saturday night as well.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
What they could go to full time? When we've got
thirty seven meters of screens there they can watch.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
It all all right. Well maybe that's a good idea
for those in Auckland. Cam, good to hear from you,
eight thanks for joining the show. Cam George CEO of
the Warry is I think he's fairly philosophical about the
whole thing, isn't he He might be philosophical, But the
only conclusion I can possibly draw from this is that
the NRL don't care at all about the New Zealand
sports fan. If they did, they would have taken Cam
(07:54):
George's plan and rubbing it. Warry is at five on Saturday.
Then we could all watch that and then the All
Blacks at seven. A heck of a lot of people
are going to want to watch both. Now now that becomes
problematic because the All Blacks kicks off an hour after
the Warriors. Yes you can double screen, of course if
(08:14):
you've got that capability, but it's not ideal. And I
asked myself, what earthly reason would the NRL have not
to move kickoff back by one hour. That's what they're
asking one hour. It's not of the Warriors are saying,
hey we want to kick off at one in the afternoon.
(08:34):
They've asked to have the kickoff moved by an hour
from six to five. It's also pretty typical of the NRL.
I have to say. They believe they are the be
all and end all of sport in this part of
the world. And I know, of course they're not duty
bound to consider any other sports, but this just smacks
(08:55):
of not wanting to budge on something which they easily
could have been flexible on.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
For more from Sports Talk listen lived and news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekday, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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