NZ Warriors head to Sydney for season opener - Stuff.co.nz

The Warriors will open their 2014 NRL season in Sydney, with a March 9 encounter with Eels - before hosting their first three Auckland-based home games of the year at Eden Park.

The announcement of next season's NRL draw sees the biggest spread of NRL games around New Zealand ever.

The Warriors host the Tigers in Wellington in round 4 (March 30), while the Bulldogs play the home team against the Warriors in Hamilton in round 10 (May 10).

The first home game for the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium doesn't occur until round 12, when they host the Knights on June 1. The Warriors play a total of eight games at their spiritual home in Penrose this year.

Matt Elliott's team will travel to Perth the following week to play the Rabbitohs in Perth - a repeat of this year's encounter in Western Australia.

WARRIORS 2014 SEASON DRAW

Round 1 vs Eels in Sydney on March 9

Round 2 vs Dragons in Auckland (Eden Park) on March 15

Round 3 vs Cowboys in Townsville on March 22

Round 4 vs Tigers in Wellington on March 30

Round 5 vs Sharks in Sydney on April 5

Round 6 vs Bulldogs in Auckland (Eden Park) on April 13

Round 7 vs Dragons in Wollongong on April 19

Round 8 vs Storm in Melbourne on April 25

Round 9 vs Raiders in Auckland (Eden Park) on May 10

Round 10 vs Bulldogs in Hamilton on May 18

Round 11 vs Titans on Gold Coast on May 24

Round 12 vs Knights in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on June 1

Round 13 vs Rabbitohs in Perth on June 7

Round 14 vs BYE

Round 15 vs Broncos in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on June 21

Round 16 vs Panthers in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on June 29

Round 17 vs BYE

Round 18 vs Eels in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on July 12

Round 19 vs Broncos in Brisbane on July 19

Round 20 vs Sea Eagles in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on July 27

Round 21 vs Raiders in Canberra on August 1

Round 22 vs Sharks in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on August 8

Round 23 vs Knights in Newcastle on August 14

Round 24 vs Roosters in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on August 21

Round 25 vs Titans in Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) on August 28

Round 26 vs Panthers in Sydney on September 4

- © Fairfax NZ News