NRL faces scrutiny over late venue change for Cronulla Sharks final

The NRL forced the Cronulla Sharks to move their upcoming home elimination final away from their suburban stadium due to capacity concerns. League officials mandated the shift to a larger venue, effectively stripping the club of its home ground advantage for the post-season match. Critics suggest the late notice, provided only days before the fixture, created unnecessary friction with supporters and left little time for planning. The NRL previously assumed control of stadium policy for finals at the start of the year, intending to maximize attendance and television viewership. Similar venue concerns persist regarding the New Zealand Warriors, who may also be required to relocate future home finals to larger neutral grounds. The league faces calls to establish transparent, pre-season stadium requirements to avoid further late-stage scheduling uncertainty for clubs and their respective fan bases.

• 10:24 PMZero Tackle NRL — NRL were right to move Sharks game, but not the way it happened