The Raiders requested a Sunday finals match for extra rest before facing the Broncos.
The NRL has officially announced the finals schedule for Week 1, revealing that the Canberra Raiders successfully requested to play on Sunday afternoon.
The Raiders, who had already planned to play on Sunday during the last round of the season, opted to rest most of their first-grade players, resulting in a significant loss to the Dolphins. Their request aimed to gain extra days before beginning the finals.
This decision means that the loser of the Raiders' match against the Brisbane Broncos will have a shorter turnaround compared to their opponent before moving on to the Week 2 semi-finals against either the Cronulla Sharks or Sydney Roosters.