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Where are the Warriors going? How today's Broncos result determines who the Kiwi club faces in the NRL playoffs

Vodafone Warriors Tohu Harris.
Vodafone Warriors v Canberra Raiders, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand. 31 August 2018. © Copyright Image: Marc Shannon / www.photosport.nz.

With just one game of importance left, the Warriors know they're off to Australia for the NRL playoffs but the Broncos' game against the Sea Eagles will answer one very important question - where.

With both the Panthers and Dragons winning their final round robin game, the Warriors are stuck in the seventh / eighth bracket for the NRL playoffs, meaning their road to the Grand Final is filled with road games.

However, the Broncos can still claim a home playoff next week. And in doing so, completely change how the bottom four will play next week in the first round of the playoffs.

Here's how each result affects the Warriors:

Broncos lose: Warriors v Dragons in Wollongong

Ken Maumalo on attack. St George Illawarra Dragons v Vodafone Warriors. NRL Rugby League. WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia. 4th August 2018. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz

Should the Broncos somehow blow it against the 15th-placed Sea Eagles, the Warriors will lock in seventh place and meet the Dragons in Wollongong.

The last time the Warriors played there in round 21, they ended a 22-year drought at WIN Stadium with a gutsy 18-12 win.

They also beat the Dragons earlier this year at Mt Smart with a 20-12 win in round seven, meaning the Dragons are yet to earn a win against the Kiwi club in 2018.

Broncos win by less than 33 points: Warriors v Panthers in Penrith

Nathan Cleary of the Panthers is tackled by Bodene Thompson of the Warriors.

If the Sea Eagles avoid a blow out, the Broncos will finish seventh and head to Wollongong instead.

As a result, the Warriors will finish eighth and head to Penrith for their third clash with the Panthers in nine weeks.

The last time the two sides met in round 24, the Warriors put them to the sword with a convincing 36-16 win at Mount Smart.

But prior to that in round 17, the exact opposite happened with the Panthers dominating in a 36-4 win.

While the two sides' trajectories have changed since that clash at Panthers Stadium, it still remains an exciting encounter with the Panthers finding some form and upsetting the Melbourne Storm this week.

Broncos win by 33 or more points: Warriors v Broncos in Brisbane

Korbin SIMS. Broncos v Vodafone Warriors, NRL Rugby League, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia. 15 July 2018. Copyright Image: Patrick Hamilton / www.photosport.nz

Should the Broncos go on a rampage at Suncorp Stadium today, they'll get the honours of hosting the Warriors at the same venue next week by rocketing into the fifth seed.

That would see the Panthers drop to sixth and therefore host the Dragons.

This outcome could prove the most interesting, with the two sides earning one win each against each other this season - both when they were at the other's venue.

The Broncos drew first blood with a 27-18 win at Mount Smart in round six but the Warriors bounced back in round 18 with a 26-6 win in Brisbane.

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