TWL Rd 17 Preview: Injury-hit Wahs primed for top-four showdown upset over in-form Phins
Heading to Brisbane with the underdog tag, the Warriors can take a massive step towards a top-two finish with a victory against the streaking Dolphins.
WARRIORS V DOLPHINS - 5PM (NZT)/3PM (AEST) SATURDAY, JUNE 27 @ SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE
The Storylines
Coming off a huge few days in Ōtautahi Christchurch — culminating in a 38-20 win over the Cowboys under the One New Zealand Stadium roof to arrest a two-game slide — the Warriors head to Suncorp Stadium for the fifth time in 14 months.
Their assignment: A second-versus-third blockbuster against a red-hot Dolphins side that has their last seven matches. The last team to beat Kristian Woolf’s firepower-laden line-up? The Warriors on Anzac Day.
The Warriors’ injury woes have snowballed, with Jackson Ford’s 10-12 week absence due to a pec tear compounding season-ending setbacks for Tanah Boyd and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and shorter-term complaints for Leka Halasima, James Fisher-Harris and Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
The Dolphins’ casualty ward consists only of Tom Gilbert and Jake Averillo — and the Redcliffe-based outfit’s been piling on the points with typical abandon while discovering some elusive defensive steel.
Another massive pro-Warriors turnout on the road awaits. The clubs’ three Suncorp Stadium encounters have averaged over 30,000 and Warrior Nation are eyeing up another takeover at ‘The Cauldron’ after owning Magic Round.
Meanwhile, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak becomes the 33rd player to bring up 100 top-grade appearances for the Warriors.
Ins and Outs
Jackson Ford’s injury sees Tanner Stowers-Smith come into the front-row, while Kurt Capewell’s return from a post-Origin rest pushes Marata Niukore to the Warriors’ bench. Sam Healey has been named in the No.14 again, bumping Makaia Tafua to the reserves — though that happened last week and Tafua was a late inclusion.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Max Plath, Tom Flegler and Selwyn Cobbo return for the Dolphins after being rested following Origin. Tom Gilbert has been ruled out.
The History
Overall record: Played 7 – Warriors won 4, Dolphins won 3; Warriors scored 150 points, Dolphins scored 146 points.
Biggest wins: Dolphins – won 34-10 at Suncorp Stadium, 2023; Warriors – won 30-8 at Mount Smart Stadium, 2023.
Longest winning streaks: 1 match.
Finals: None
Most appearances: Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins) – 7; Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins) – 7; Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins) – 7; Mitchell Barnett (Warriors) – 6; Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins) – 6; Mark Nicholls (Dolphins) – 6; Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins) – 6; Marata Niukore (Warriors) – 6; Ray Stone (Dolphins) – 6; Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins) – 6; Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors) – 6.
Most tries: Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins) – 7; Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) – 6; Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors) – 6.
Most points: Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins) – 68; Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) – 24; Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors) – 24; Shaun Johnson (Warriors) – 18.
THE RIVALRY: WARRIORS V DOLPHINS
The Warriors’ youngest rivalry has already featured a golden point edition, a heroic short-handed upset and a last-minute match-winner.
The Stats
Neither club has won consecutive games in this rivalry.
The average crowd figure for the clubs’ seven clashes is over 28,600.
The teams’ last five encounters have been decided by four points or less.
The Warriors and Dolphins have both scored 29.57 points per game in 2026 (third in the NRL); the Warriors have conceded 17.43 points per game (second in the NRL) while the Dolphins leak 20.36 points per game (fourth).
On their current seven-match winning streak, the Dolphins have scored 36.86 points and conceded 14.29 on average.
The Warriors have won four of their last six matches at Suncorp Stadium; the Dolphins have won nine of their last 13 there — including their last four in a row by 18-plus margins.
The Warriors are 7-2 away from Auckland in 2026 and 16-7 since the start of 2025.
Jamayne Isaako has scored seven tries in seven matches, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak six tries in six matches and Herbie Farnworth six tries in five matches in this rivalry.
Isaako averages almost 10 points per game against the Warriors — and he’s ticking along at almost 13 points an outing in 2026.
5 Key Match-ups
Taine Tuaupiki vs Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow: At opposite ends of the height scale, rival fullbacks Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Taine Tuaupiki and both enjoying outstanding seasons. ‘The Hammer’ has eight tries and seven try assists this season, while Tuaupiki has produced seven line-breaks in his last seven games and is ranked fifth in the NRL for tackle-breaks per game.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad vs Jamayne Isaako: CNK is coming off a four-try haul in his first NRL start on the wing since 2017…but he was also a little out of position as Braidon Burns bagged a double. Isaako has had a field day in this rivalry (including a brace in Wellington earlier this year) and is arguably in career-best form in 2026.
Te Maire Martin vs Isaiya Katoa: Martin has barely put a foot wrong since answering the No.7 SOS — notching four tries and six try assists in five games — but the difference between his and young superstar Katoa’s kicking games could be a key factor here.
Wayde Egan vs Jeremy Marshall-King: Egan got his running game going again against the Sharks and unleashed its full force to terrorise the Cowboys, while also producing two try assists. JMK has only been back in the No.9 for four games after an injury-stunted start to 2026 but has managed a line-break in his last two games.
Mitch Barnett vs Tom Flegler: The blonde-haired Origin opponents will be eager to set the tone up front for their teams, especially with fellow middle leaders Fisher-Harris and Gilbert out.
Last time they met
The clubs played out a scrappy Anzac Day thriller in Wellington earlier this year in front of a 34,812-strong crowd in 2026.
The Dolphins got out to an 18-6 lead after 20 minutes thanks to a Jamayne Isaako double, but the Warriors clawed back and snatched a 20-18 victory via a try to Taine Tuaupiki and a clutch Tanah Boyd conversion with 19 minutes left.
TWL Rd 8: Kingz Container Crew Warriors Player Ratings
I was hoping for a more overwhelmingly positive performance to report on for my 200th edition of the Kingz Container Crew player ratings, but maybe that helter skelter display was a more appropriate …
Why the Wahs Will Win: The Dolphins could hardly have been more impressive on their current seven-match tear, but they haven’t played anyone with decent form behind them since their loss to the Warriors. They’ve also been involved in a succession of blowouts, while the Warriors relish an arm-wrestle and should have the edge in the forward battle.
Why the Wahs Will Lose: With injuries starting to bit, the Warriors could be vulnerable on a fast track against a freewheeling Dolphins outfit — who they can’t afford to let get out to a double-digit lead like they did in Wellington.
The Punt: Head to Head — Warriors $2.25, Panthers $1.; Line — Warriors -6.5; Total Points Line — Over/Under 50.5 Points
Best Anytime Tyrscorer Options — Jamayne Isaako ($1.83), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($1.85), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ($1.92), Te Maire Martin ($3.30), Connelly Lemuelu ($4.10), Erin Clark ($5.25)
The Verdict: This is a massive litmus test for both teams and a hugely important in the context of the top-four race. The Warriors are conditioned for these types of encounters, however, while the Dolphins have been coasting along — albeit impressively — against subpar opposition. Warriors by 2