Sharks denied home final as stadium upgrade push intensifies

Cronulla has been denied the opportunity to stage its NRL elimination final at Ocean Protect Stadium, with the Sharks' clash against North Queensland shifted to Allianz Stadium as the limitations of the suburban venue again come into focus.

The Sharks finished fifth on the ladder to earn hosting rights for the opening week of the finals, but the NRL has confirmed Saturday night's elimination final will instead be played approximately 25 kilometres away at Moore Park.

Cronulla will host the eighth-placed Cowboys at Allianz Stadium from 7:50pm on Saturday, September 12, with the winner progressing to Week Two and the loser eliminated.

The decision has disappointed the Sharks, who have used the relocation to renew their push for government funding to redevelop their ageing home ground at Woolooware.

"We're disappointed our home game will be played at Allianz and not at our home, Ocean Protect Stadium, but we must respect the NRL's decision and move forward," Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta said.

"It's another reminder of how vital it is we secure funding to upgrade our stadium so that we can bring finals footy back to Ocean Protect Stadium in the future."

Shark Park has a traditional capacity of around 20,000, although this has been reduced to approximately 15,000 due to ongoing development within the surrounding Woolooware Bay precinct.

No improvements have been made to the stadium itself despite the ongoing development within the wider precinct.

The ground was purpose-built for rugby league in the 1960s and, according to the Sharks, was last significantly upgraded in 2006.

While the intimate suburban venue remains popular with Cronulla supporters and provides the Sharks with a strong home-ground advantage, its ageing facilities and restricted capacity continue to present challenges for major matches.

The club has been lobbying for government assistance to modernise the stadium and earlier this year again highlighted its position compared with other NRL clubs.

Mezzatesta said in March that Cronulla was the only Sydney NRL club, and one of only three clubs across the competition, not to have received government funding towards either a stadium upgrade or Centre of Excellence.

The opening of the redeveloped Sharks Leagues Club and associated corporate facilities will provide improvements around the venue, but the club has acknowledged significantly more work is required to improve the match-day experience.

The stadium issue is particularly apparent during the finals, when demand can substantially exceed the capacity available at Woolooware.

Cronulla has previously been permitted to host Week One finals at its home ground, but the NRL has opted for the significantly larger Allianz Stadium this year.

The Sharks are now calling on supporters to travel to Moore Park, with the club targeting around 25,000 Cronulla fans for Saturday night's match.

"We're calling on all Sharks members and fans to bring that same atmosphere to turn Allianz Stadium into a black, white and blue 'Shark Tank' this Saturday, where we hope to have 25,000 fans flying the Sharks flag," Mezzatesta said.

The Sharks' Round 11 NRLW home match against St George Illawarra has been relocated to Allianz Stadium to create a Saturday double-header, with the women's game kicking off at 5:10pm before the NRL elimination final at 7:50pm.

It means Allianz Stadium will host three NRL finals matches across the opening two weeks of September, beginning with another elimination final on Friday night.

The 2026 NRL Finals Series commences on Friday, September 11, when sixth-placed South Sydney hosts seventh-placed Newcastle at Allianz Stadium from 7:50pm.

The winner advances to Week Two while the losing team's season will be over.

Attention then shifts across the Tasman on Saturday afternoon, with second-placed New Zealand Warriors hosting third-placed Dolphins in a qualifying final at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.

Kick-off is at 4:05pm AEST, or 6:05pm local time, with the winner earning a week off and advancing directly to a preliminary final.

Cronulla and North Queensland follow at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night before the opening weekend concludes with the minor premiers in action in western Sydney.

Penrith will host the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium from 4:05pm on Sunday, September 13.

The Panthers secured the minor premiership in the final round of the regular season, while the Roosters enter their 10th consecutive finals campaign.

The complete Week One schedule is:

Friday, September 11 - Elimination Final
South Sydney Rabbitohs (6) v Newcastle Knights (7)
Allianz Stadium, 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, September 12 - Qualifying Final
New Zealand Warriors (2) v Dolphins (3)
Go Media Stadium, 4:05pm AEST / 6:05pm NZST

Saturday, September 12 - Elimination Final
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (5) v North Queensland Cowboys (8)
Allianz Stadium, 7:50pm AEST

Sunday, September 13 - Qualifying Final
Penrith Panthers (1) v Sydney Roosters (4)
CommBank Stadium, 4:05pm AEST

View the full NRL Fixture >

The NRL heads into the finals following a record-breaking regular season, with more than four million spectators attending premiership matches in 2026.

Tickets for Week One finals start from $29 for adults and $79 for families, with competing club members receiving priority access on Monday before the general public on-sale from Tuesday. Visit the Austadiums Tickets Hub for more information.

For Cronulla, however, the opening weekend again highlights the contrast between the club's on-field position and the infrastructure available at its traditional home.

The Sharks earned the right to host a sudden-death final, but instead of playing in front of a capacity crowd in Cronulla, they will attempt to recreate their home-ground advantage at the 42,500-capacity Allianz Stadium.

With the club continuing to pursue funding for a substantial upgrade of Ocean Protect Stadium, the relocation provides another high-profile example of the infrastructure limitations it hopes to address.