The Dolphins will be eager to finish their debut season with a victory in round 27 but face the finals-bound One New Zealand Warriors who haven’t lost in two months.
While the Kiwi side can’t move any higher than third, a loss against the Dolphins coupled with a Storm win over the Broncos would see them drop to fourth, so they still have plenty to play for on Saturday.
After holding a team to under 12 points for the first time since round 20 last Friday against the Dragons, Andrew Webster will be hoping his side have rediscovered their hard edge defensively as they seek to secure a club record-equaling eighth win in a row.
It’s a very different situation for the Dolphins, who haven’t won since the middle of July and face ending their first season without a win in their final seven games.
While they fought hard in an eventual 10-34 loss to the Cowboys, Wayne Bennett’s men put themselves under far too much pressure by making 13 errors and completing at just 63 percent.
Those stats were off brand for them in 2023, with the Dolphins having committed the fewest errors in the NRL through 26 rounds.
Earlier this year the One New Zealand Warriors came away with a 30-8 win when these two sides met in Auckland but at Suncorp Stadium the Warriors have lost their last three and five of their previous six.
Match: Dolphins v Warriors
Round 27 -
home Team
Dolphins
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi
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Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Tesi NiuCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Dolphins is number 18 Valynce Te WhareCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack BostockWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
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Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Sean O'SullivanHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Ronald Volkman
Forwards
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Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse BromwichProp for Warriors is number 8 Bunty Afoa
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Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Harrison GrahamHooker for Warriors is number 9 Freddy Lussick
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Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Mark NichollsProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran
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2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Kenneath BromwichLock for Warriors is number 13 Dylan Walker
Interchange
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Jarrod WallaceInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Isaiya KatoaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Max PlathInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Kalani Going
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Herman Ese'eseInterchange for Warriors is number 23 Paul Roache
Reserves
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Replacement for Dolphins is number 19 Mason TeagueReplacement for Warriors is number 20 Jacob Laban
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Team News
Dolphins: A change 24 hours before kick-off with former Warrior Euan Aitken dropping out, his place taken by Valynce Te Whare. Skipper Jesse Bromwich returns from a groin injury to lead the Dolphins in their final game, pushing Jarrod Wallace to the bench. Prop Josh Kerr misses the game through suspension so Max Plath joins the bench.
One New Zealand Warriors: Kalani Going and Paul Roache were added to the bench on Friday and will make their NRL debuts with Jackson Ford being rested and Brayden Wiliame moving to 19th man. Coach Webster has opted to rest the majority of his frontline stars. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak join Shaun Johnson in sitting out round 27, which opens the door for Taine Tuaupiki, Edward Kosi and Ronald Volkman to have a run in their preferred positions. Te Maire Martin makes his long-awaited return at standoff in place of Luke Metcalf (hamstring). Hooker Wayde Egan is replaced in the starting side by Freddy Lussick while Mitch Barnett returns from a leg laceration to replace Addin Fonua-Blake at prop. Captain Tohu Harris is out with a back injury, so Dylan Walker starts at loose forward and will lead the side.
Stat attack
- Jamayne Isaako heads into the final round of the regular season leading the competition in both points scored (230) and tries scored (23).
- The One New Zealand Warriors have won eight of their 11 away games so far, the equal second-best away record in the NRL. They haven't lost an away game since their Anzac Day
- The One New Zealand Warriors have won only one of their past seven games at Suncorp Stadium.
- A win will see the Warriors register eight wins in a row for just the second time in club history.
- The Dolphins have defeated three top eight teams in 2023: Raiders, Knights and Sharks.
- The Dolphins have lost 10 of their past 11 games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
