If the NRL hadn't suspended its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 crisis, the NZ Warriors would be preparing for one of their most talked-about games of the season.
The Warriors were set to face the Parramatta Eels in a 'home' game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, as part of the NRL's 'Magic Round'.
The rivals' last meeting was last year's controversial encounter, won by the Eels, which left Warriors management seething and saw referees stood down.
This match was scheduled to be their only meeting of the 2020 season.
A host of players have represented both clubs including current Warriors playmaker Blake Green, while Feleti Mateo and Krisnan Inu helped the Auckland-based side to the 2011 Grand Final in their first year after leaving Parramatta.
Daniel Anderson, who coached the Warriors to the 2002 Grand Final, helped the Eels reach the decider seven years later, but he was replaced for the 2011 season by current Warriors coach Stephen Kearney, who enjoyed little success at Parramatta.
Since the Warriors inception, the two teams have met 40 times, with the Eels holding a slim advantage in head-to-head results with 22 victories.
With no rugby league possible, Newshub will take you back down memory lane, with three memorable Warriors v Eels games that took place in over the years.
September 9, 2001 - Eels 56 Warriors 12, at Parramatta Stadium
The Warriors' maiden trip to the NRL playoffs ended in heartache, as they suffered a record defeat to the minior-premier Eels.
At the time, the winning margin was the largest in finals series history and it remains the Eels' biggest win over the Warriors.
Missing veteran players like Kevin Campion and Monty Betham, the visitors were never in the contest, as the Eels raced out to a 24-6 lead.
The home side pulled away in the second half, with fullback Brett Hodgson and lock Daniel Wagon both bagging try doubles, while halfback Jason Taylor scored 18 points.
Led by future Kiwis captain Nathan Cayless, Parramatta would reach the Grand Final, losing 30-24 to the Newcastle Knights, while hooker PJ Marsh would join the Warriors the following season.
Eels 56 (Brett Hodgson 2, Daniel Wagon 2, Luke Burt, Ian Hindmarsh, Jamie Lyon, Jason Taylor & David Vaealiki tries; Jason Taylor 5 conversions & 2 penalties, Luke Burt 2 conversions & penalty) Warriors 12 (Wairangi Koopu & Motu Tony tries; Ivan Cleary 2 conversions)
Parramatta: 1-Brett Hodgson, 19-Luke Burt, 3-Jamie Lyon, 4-David Vaealiki, 5-Jason Moddie, 6-Michael Buettner, 7-Jason Taylor, 8-Nathan Cayless (c), 9-Brad Drew, 21-Alex Chan, 11-Nathan Hindmarsh, 12-Ian Hindmarsh, 13-Daniel Wagon
Interchange: 14-PJ Marsh, 16-Chad Robinson, 17-Daniel Solomona, 22-Danny Sullivan
Warriors: 1-Ivan Cleary, 2-Henry Fa'afili, 3-Clinton Toopi, 4-Francis Meli, 5-Shontayne Hape, 6-Motu Tony, 7-Stacey Jones (c), 8-Jerry Seuseu, 9-Jason Death, 10-Ali Lauiti'iti, 11-Logan Swann, 12-Awen Guttenbeil, 13-Wairangi Koopu
Interchange: 14-Nathan Wood, 15-Mark Tookey, 16-David Myles, 17-Richard Villasanti
September 6, 2008 - Eels 6 Warriors 28, at Parramatta Stadium
The Warriors buried some old demons in the must-win clash to book a spot in the NRL playoffs for the second straight season.
Heading into the match, the Warriors had won six of their last eight games to put themselves in contention for a post-season spot, but they hadn't won at this venue since 1995.
History was made, as a hat-trick of tries to Manu Vatuvei and a double to Brent Tate kept their season alive. Vatuvei scored the first three, with Tate adding his brace in the final 15 minutes."
"I was kind of looking forward to coming back to Parramatta and turning my game around," said Vatuvei, who had suffered a nightmare performance at the same venue the previous year.
"I only concentrated on catching all the balls this week and I did, so I'm proud of myself."
Coach Ivan Cleary also praised the winger after his first career hat-trick.
"He was bagged from pillar to post, not just that night, but consistently after that as well,” Cleary said.
"He had one bad night… it would have buried a lot of people, what he had to go through, so he’s mentally very strong."
The Warriors went on to reach the Grand Final qualifier, where they'd lose to eventual champions Manly Sea Eagles.
Eels 6 (Kris Keating try; Luke Burt conversion) Warriors 28 (Manu Vatuvei 3 & Brent Tate 2 tries; Michael Witt 3 conversions & penalty)
Parramatta: 1-Jarryd Hayne, 2-Luke Burt, 3-Krisnan Inu, 4-Taulima Tautai, 5-Tony Williams, 6-Feleti Mateo, 7-Kris Keating, 8-Nathan Cayless (c), 9-Matt Keating, 10-Fuifui Moimoi, 11-Nathan Hindmarsh, 12-Todd Lowrie, 13-Chad Robinson
Interchange: 14-Brendan Oake, 15-Josh Cordoba, 16-Weller Hauraki, 17-Junior Paulo
Warriors: 14-Lance Hohaia, 2-Aidan Kirk, 3-Brent Tate, 4-Jerome Ropati, 5-Manu Vatuvei, 6-Michael Witt, 7-Nathan Fien, 8-Ruben Wiki, 9-Ian Henderson, 10-Steve Price (c), 11-Simon Mannering, 12-Ben Matulino, 13-Micheal Luck
Interchange: 14-Evarn Tuimavave, 15-Sam Rapira, 16-Logan Swann, 18-Grant Rovelli
July 27, 2019 - Eels 24 Warriors 22, at Bankwest Stadium
In one of the most controversial matches in NRL history, the Eels escaped with victory and very luck not to be stripped of the win.
The Warriors were on the receiving end of a 9-2 penalty count, while crucial decisions went against them in the second 40 minutes.
With minutes remaining, Tuivasa-Sheck made a break down the right wing and threw a miracle pass around the corner to find Gerard Beale on the outside, who looked to stroll over the line for the matchwinner, but the pass was ruled forward.
That wasn't the only controversial call to go against the Warriors. Chanel Harris-Tavita completed a legal strip early in the second half, but was penalised by the officials.
Moments later the Eels scored a match-levelling try - both calls were deemed mistakes by NRL head of football Graham Annesley, who noted a deflected ball between Blake Green and Eels playmaker Dylan Brown was propelled forward by Brown, and thus a try should not have been awarded.
The Warriors also benefitted from a mistake, with Issac Luke scoring a try moments after Isaiah Papali'i clearly knocked the ball forward.
But the outcome left the Wariors left a sour taste in Kearney's mouth.
"I thought it was very ordinary," Kearney said of the referees. "We could have been better in certain areas - I won't hide from the fact that we need to be better - but our roles were made really hard.
"If they can't get it right, which it was pretty comprehensive today that they couldn't, just leave it like it was.
"If you can't rule on it and you can't make a decision on it, just piss it off, fair dinkum."
Eels 24 (Brad Takairangi, Ethan Parry, Maika Sivo & Clinton Gutherson tries; Mitchell Moses 3 conversions & penalty) Warriors 22 (Ken Maumalo 2, Issac Luke & Gerard Beale tries; Luke 3 conversions)
Parramatta: 1-Clinton Cutherson (c), 2-Maika Sivo, 3-Brad Takarangi, 4-Waqa Blake, 21- Ethan Parry, 6-Dylan Brown, 7-Mitchaell Moses, 8-Kane Evans, 9-Reed Mahoney, 10-Junior Paulo, 11-Marata Niukore, 12-Manu Ma'u, 13-Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14-Oregen Kaufusi, 15-Daniel Alvaro, 16-David Gower, 17-Tepai Moeroa
Warriors: 1-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2-Gerard Beale, 3-Peta Hiku, 4-Blake Ayshford, 5-Ken Maumalo, 17-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 6-Blake Green, 8-Agnatius Paasi, 9-Issac Luke, 10-Leeson Ah Mau, 11-Adam Blair, 12-Isaiah Papali'i, 13-Jazz Tevaga
Interchange: 14-Lachlan Burr, 15-Sam Lisone, 16-Bunty Afoa, 20-Adam Keighran
