The Warriors will need to take the hard path to the NRL Grand Final, having lost to the Dolphins in their qualifier at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium.

A victory in week one would have seen the Warriors take a week off and advance straight to the preliminiary finals in week three.

Instead they’ll take on the Newscastle Knights in a must-win elimination final on Sunday.

Here’s who plays who next:

The teams that lost their qualifying finals get another chance. They play the winners of the elimination finals in two sudden death games.

The two winners would then move on to the preliminary finals.

Warriors boss Cameron George is expecting Sunday’s game to sell out, in what he describes as an international for his side.

“It’s us versus Australia. So the more people we get there, the better New Zealand will be.

“There are 17 teams in this comp and we’re the only one from here so it’s us against them. This is our New Zealand grand final in the NRL and it’s pretty special.”

Warriors club members can buy tickets from midday Monday with general public tickets going on sale Tuesday.

The four remaining teams play in the preliminary finals.

The Panthers and Dolphins have advanced straight to the prelims where they’ll meet the winners of the semi finals.

If the Warriors win against the Knights this weekend, they’ll go on to play the Panthers.

The winner of the Sharks v Roosters match this weekend will face the Dolphins.

The winners book their place in the Grand Final.

rnz

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is investigating allegations of bribery, corruption and fraud across the driver licensing system, RNZ can reveal.

It comes as the agency is looking at body cameras for driver testing officers (DTOs).

RNZ earlier revealed 16 DTOs had been suspended with a further seven stood down following an investigation by the NZTA.

The investigation relates to abnormal test results for both passenger and heavy vehicles across the country, with about 650 drivers required to re-sit tests.

RNZ requested under the Official Information Act correspondence in relation to the investigation into the abnormal tests.

In response, NZTA director of land transport Mike Hargreaves confirmed this week that the assessment of abnormal tests sits alongside investigations into potential fraud, bribery and corruption within the driver licensing system.

Hargreaves said that last year NZTA identified that the test results of some driver testing officers were “outside expected norms”. NZTA then began an investigation in October.

In July, 23 testing officers were suspended or stood down from practical driver licence testing. A further seven, who were not actively testing, were also suspended as a precautionary measure.

NZTA withheld a series of weekly progress reports in relation to allegations of driver licensing fraud, bribery and corruption.

“The reports were developed to provide governance and operational oversight of ongoing investigations into alleged bribery, corruption and fraud across multiple aspects of the driver licensing system.

“The reports contain detailed information relating to intelligence gathering activities, investigative findings and lines of enquiry, the identification and assessment of persons and companies of interest, overseas licence conversion fraud investigations, licence cancellation activity, and rectification programmes resulting from misconduct and fraud investigations.”

The OIA also included a briefing to Minister of Transport Chris Bishop on 12 June, updating him on NZTA’s work relating to the wider investigations.

“These investigations continue to progress, with significant activity planned over the remainder of the calendar year.”

The briefing said “control improvements” had been made, with early indications that they were improving the system.

It also said fraud had increased “significantly” in recent years in New Zealand and globally.

“Driven by factors such as financial pressure, post-Covid disruption, workforce changes, and greater technological opportunity.”

In response, NZTA had strengthened its fraud controls and in June last year established an internal fraud taskforce.

“Current activity of this taskforce includes active investigations into potential fraud, bribery and corruption in driver licence testing; compliance reviews of course providers; and auditing of overseas driver licence conversions.”

In February last year, NZTA completed an “intelligence assessment” that raised concerns of potential bribery at VTNZ’s Highbrook branch.

VTNZ, supported by NZTA, investigated the allegations which resulted in the dismissal of five DTOs and the ending of practical driver licence testing at that site.

The briefing said that two phases of licence rectification had been completed for drivers tested by the five DTOs.

“In total, 631 individuals were required to sit on-road safety tests, with 497 doing so.

“The pass rate was 59.8 percent, which is significantly below the national average of 83.4 percent and indicative of an elevated safety risk.”

In relation to the current investigation, the briefing said that from 30 June the investigation would move to its next phase, which had been named Operation Kea.

“This action is expected to reduce practical testing capacity and necessitate some short notice rescheduling of driver licence tests.

“Mitigation measures, such as reserved bookings, are being coordinated with VTNZ, and a retesting programme is planned for those licence holders that have potentially received their licence improperly, applying an intelligence-led risk-based analysis to those tested by the DTOs.”

The briefing said the most significant impacts were expected in Auckland and for heavy vehicle driver licences.

“Some sustained pressure on the practical testing system is anticipated through the second half of 2026.”

Additional controls were in the process of being implemented, including body cameras for DTOs and fraud and integrity training for agent staff.

“The timing for a full rollout of body cameras will be dependent on NZTA’s approval and the outcome of Operation Kea.”

The OIA also includes the risk factors that were used in the driver testing officer risk assessments.

This included particularly short test times or drive times between tests, pass rate deviations from national averages and for specific sub-groups, and tests recorded as completed well in advance of the booked test time.

“Tests recorded as completed more than one hour prior to the booked test time are considered highly unlikely to reflect normal practice and may indicate the test was not conducted in line with required procedures or service expectations.”

In response to questions from RNZ, Hargreaves said NZTA undertook regular monitoring activities, proactively audited DTOs, investigated concerns when they arose and acted when issues were identified.

“This includes the recent suspension and stand down of a number of DTOs following an investigation into the conduct of DTOs sparked by abnormal test results identified by NZTA’s monitoring activity, and earlier concerns with some practical testing.”

NZTA has been investigating these concerns since October 2025.

“Since then, we have carried out further assurance and investigative work to determine whether similar issues existed elsewhere. The action being taken now is the result of that work. This action is to ensure the safety of road users and maintain confidence in the driver licensing system.”

He said it was important to note that the investigations showed the “vast majority of driving tests have been undertaken properly”.

“The action we have taken relates to specific driver testing officers who may not have conducted tests properly. Monitoring for, identifying and then acting on these sorts of issues is part of our core business as a regulator, and when we identify concerns, we will act.”

NZTA was strengthening oversight and assurance of driver testing, including increased monitoring and auditing of driver testing, Hargreaves said.

“Both NZTA and VTNZ will continue to implement further improvements as opportunities are identified. NZTA are also working with the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport to consider potential options for further strengthening the driver licensing system, as well as reviewing and improving operational policies and processes.”

Bishop told RNZ he had been briefed on the steps NZTA was taking.

“As this is an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

“However, I am pleased the matter is being taken seriously and is being thoroughly investigated.”

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has made three changes to his starting XV for Sunday morning’s third test against the Springboks in Johannesburg.

Hooker Codie Taylor, who started in the first and second tests, has been replaced in the run-on side by Asafo Aumua, who gets his first start in the test series after some impressive performances coming off the bench.

Taylor has been left out of the matchday 23, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming into the reserves.

George Bower and Tyrel Lomax are retained as the starting props.

Sam Darry, who hasn’t featured in either of the first two tests, starts at lock alongside Tupou Vaa’i, pushing Fabian Holland to the bench.

Peter Lakai, who was also impressive coming off the bench in Cape Town, will start at blindside flanker, with Simon Parker, who started at No. 6 last weekend, omitted from the matchday 23.

Luke Jacobson remains at openside with captain Ardie Savea at No. 8.

Wallace Sititi will make his first test appearance in the series, coming into the 23 as loose forward impact.

The starting backline remains the same as last weekend with Cam Roigard and Ruben Love in the halves, Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea in the midfield and Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan and Leroy Carter in the back three.

Prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord, who missed the second test with concussion, have cleared concussion protocols, but Rennie decided it would be best to give them another week to recover.

With the series tied 1-1 both sides are desperate to win the last test on South African soil before the fourth and final match in Baltimore in the US.

Sunday morning’s (NZT) match is at the Soccer City stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, which holds about 94,000 fans.

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets):

1. George Bower (28)

2. Asafo Aumua (24)

3. Tyrel Lomax (53)

4. Tupou Vaa’i (49)

5. Sam Darry (10)

6. Peter Lakai (12)

7. Luke Jacobson (29)

8. Ardie Savea (111) – Captain

9. Cam Roigard (22)

10. Ruben Love (10)

11. Leroy Carter (9)

12. Jordie Barrett (83)

13. Quinn Tupaea (28)

14. Will Jordan (59)

15. Damian McKenzie (79)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (44)

17. Xavier Numia (3)

18. Fletcher Newell (39)

19. Fabian Holland (14)

20. Wallace Sititi (21)

21. Kyle Preston (3)

22. Anton Lienert-Brown (92)

23. Josh Moorby (4)