Updated March 14, 2020 21:58:21

Photo: Warriors players will have to wait to learn the immediate future of their NRL campaign. (AAP: Darren Pateman)

The immediate status of the NRL season has been placed in doubt following the New Zealand Government's announcement that international arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days.

The decision to tighten border restrictions in New Zealand means the season could be postponed, or the Warriors might be forced to base themselves in Australia.

The development prompted the ARL Commission to hold an emergency meeting this evening, with chairman Peter V'landys and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg to hold a media conference on Sunday morning.

News of the NZ Government's move emerged during the Warriors 20-0 loss to the Knights in Newcastle this afternoon.

Warriors centre Peta Hiku is facing the prospect of missing the birth of his child if the club is forced to remain in Australia under the border restrictions announced by New Zealand.

In a media conference in Newcastle following the loss to the Knights, Warriors chief executive Cameron George revealed Hiku's partner is pregnant and due in a week, while several players have young families.

"The day we've had today, it's just something else our group has got to deal with," Mr George said.

"Led by [coach] Stephen [Kearney], we've got a great leadership group and what happens will happen.

"I'm just focused on making sure we get the best outcome for our families and the boys.

"There's a couple of players there who have very young children who were just born in recent weeks."

The Warriors are expected to be home before the start of the travel restrictions, described by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as the "toughest" in the world.

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The unprecedented step has left the Warriors' round two clash with Canberra — part of a double-header with Super Rugby — at Eden Park in grave doubt.

Already, South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett and North Queensland captain Michael Morgan have called for the NRL season to be postponed.

Broadcaster Channel Nine have also announced they will host and call all matches from the studio until further notice.

The league had announced on Friday it would allow spectators to attend this weekend's matches, but fixtures would then go behind closed doors.

The NRL has already floated the possibility of playing all matches in one city over "magic weekends" to try to keep players healthy.

Knights keep clean sheet

On the field, the Knights began a new era under debutant coach Adam O'Brien with a comprehensive victory, as they kept a team scoreless for the first time in six seasons.

While the Knights' defence was a highlight, they showed moments of brilliance in attack in miserable weather conditions.

In a sight that is sure to stir Knights fans, playmakers Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga combined beautifully for a kick and chase try in the 55th minute.

It polished off the earlier efforts of Daniel Saifiti and Edrick Lee, who also scored tries in front of a crowd of 10,239.

With 18 minutes to go the Warriors made the first successful captain's challenge of the NRL season.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck challenged what was originally ruled a knock on by the Warriors, and it was overturned when the NRL bunker revealed Knights prop Tim Glasby touched the football first.

It was in vain, however, as the Warriors struggled to make any metres out of their own end against the surging Knights defence.

Panthers roar home to stun Roosters

Penrith has sprung the first upset of the season, coming from behind to defeat reigning premiers the Sydney Roosters 20-14.

The Roosters led 12-0 early and were up by six points with 17 minutes to go when Stephen Crichton set up a grandstand finish with a try off his first touch.

Playing in just the fifth match of his career, Crichton had only just run on the field for full-back Caleb Aekins when Josh Mansour found space down the left edge.

Photo: Brent Naden (right) scored Penrith's opening try after its poor start to the match. (AAP: Craig Golding)

But the 19-year-old made an immediate impact by latching onto Mansour's in-field kick to ignite the Panthers Stadium crowd of 10,160.

Crichton's injection proved to be the turning point, with Nathan Cleary running to the line and offloading for Viliame Kikau to give the Panthers the lead.

The Roosters had an opportunity late to steal a season-opening win, however, the home side held on to hand the visitors their first loss since round 25 last year.

They had opened the match with a penalty goal in the second minute before Mitchell Aubusson crossed soon after.

A blowout loomed when Sio Siua Taukeiaho pounced on a grubber in the 20th minute, with the conversion added by Kyle Flanagan, but the Panthers halved the deficit at the break with a Brent Naden try.

Both teams traded penalty goals in the second half but it was not until Crichton's late-match heroics that the home side had a chance of victory.

The loss for the Roosters was further soured by a concussion to Matt Ikuvalu, while Sitili Tupouniua limped off late with a suspected knee injury.

Rabbitohs hold off Sharks' late charge

South Sydney has repelled a fast-finishing Cronulla to claim a 22-18 win to start its season at the Olympic stadium in Homebush.

In a thrilling finish, the Sharks were denied a try in the second-last minute by a forward pass which would have completed a stunning comeback.

Sharks captain Wade Graham attempted to challenge the call after Josh Morris had crossed, but was correctly told by referee Ben Cummins he was unable to have a forward pass reviewed.

Replays showed the call was the correct one, with the ball from Connor Tracey to Morris going marginally forward.

It came after the Sharks had trailed 22-8 with 18 minutes to go, before launching a comeback via two tries to Sione Katoa.

Photo: Latrell Mitchell (right) produced a solid performance on debut for the Rabbitohs. (AAP: Dean Lewins)

Latrell Mitchell played 56 minutes at full-back and tallied 50 metres in four runs during his Rabbitohs debut.

The Rabbitohs' new-look middle passed its first test, holding firm after losing Sam and George Burgess and John Sutton from their pack at the end of last year.

Adam Reynolds, Campbell Graham and Ethan Lowe scored the Rabbitohs' three tries.

AAP/ABC

Topics: sport, rugby-league, respiratory-diseases, health, diseases-and-disorders, infectious-diseases-other, nrl, newcastle-2300, new-zealand, homebush-2140, penrith-2750, sydney-2000

First posted March 14, 2020 18:03:59