The Dolphins may have been playing the first post-season match in their existence, but they meted out a lesson finals footy to overrun the Warriors 26-16 in their own backyard via three tries in the last 20 minutes.
A tense, fiery and tight affair had the Warriors 16-8 in front at the hour mark at Go Media Stadium — with the home side slotting a bygone era-esque five penalty goals.
But when the Dolphins finally found a way to open the game up, the Warriors completely fell apart defensively and allowed the visitors to run roughshod.
Leka Halasima’s last-minute withdrawal was a blow compounded by his replacement’s brain explosion and general lack of impact. Three sin-binnings (two Warriors, one Dolphin) made for an eventful first half that didn’t incur any real scoreboard damage.
Predictable, unthreatening attack hampered the Warriors but was masked by the fact they led for more than 50 minutes. The depth and quality of the kicking game from Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin ultimately came home to roost (and was exacerbated by Isaiya Katoa’s booming boot), but it was an overwhelmingly subpar night across the board as a home preliminary final went begging.
The Warriors — and their jarred fanbase and the hapless folk that cover them in article and podcast format — are now left to sift through the wreckage of their sixth loss in seven finals matches (and sixth straight week one defeat) ahead of a sudden-death semi against the Knights.
A typically physical start — with both sides noticeably testy — garnered an early penalty goal apiece, along with an HIA exit for Tom Flegler from a Wiki-into-Soliola-like charge from Mitch Barnett.
Taine Tuaupiki again justified his retention in the fullback spot with the opening try after 15 minutes, getting the ball flat-footed then bumping and dancing his way past several Dolphins for a memorably finals try.
An astute Captain’s Challenge for a tackle on Barnett off the ball soon afterwards allowed Tuaupiki to knock over another penalty for a 10-2 lead.
But the Dolphins hit back through a slick backline shift after a dreadful Wayde Egan pass handed back cheap possession 30 metres out from the Warriors’ line. The Warriors’ right edge got it wrong and Herbie Farnworth’s tip-on gave Selwyn Cobbo a a cruisy run to the corner.
From the restart, perhaps the most inexplicable moment from Adam Pompey’s bulging catalogue of liability: a blatant cocked-elbow shoulder-charge to earn 10 minutes in the bin.
But the Warriors gamely defended a couple of sets on their own line, before the qualifying final exploded again. Isaiya Katoa should have been binned for sending Jackson Ford base over apex but wasn’t; instead Cobbo and Kurt Capewell were sent for a spell for the resultant melee.
The unnerving 12-on-11 scenario worked out fine for the Warriors, who bogarted possession for the rest of the half. A second try proved elusive, but another penalty on the bell provided a 12-8 lead at the break.
The Warriors were generally in control for the first half of the second stanza, knocking over a couple more penalties for a handy eight-point lead.
But when Herbie Farnworth weaved through for a trademark try off a ball that went to ground with 19 minutes left, the Warriors turned into a pack of Panicky Petes.
Their painstakingly built lead disappeared with 13 minutes to go from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s kick-return break. Farnworth supported and popped a ball back for the ‘Hammer’ to stroll in.
A response from the Warriors never looked like materialising. The match was effectively over once Alofiana Khan-Pereira mistimed his jump to catch a bomb and Jack Bostock snaffled the ball from CHT to score with five minutes on the clock.
Shellshocked. Outenthused. Outplayed.
The Warriors seemed to revert to the overcautious and clunky attack that held them back at times in 2025; the regular season’s most potent offensive unit looked anything but.
It was a line-up screaming for Halasima and Dallin Watene-Zelenziak, though the latter’s return sets up an excruciating decision at fullback with Tuaupiki easily the Warriors’ best on the night. If fit, Luke Metcalf may came straight into the Team List Tuesday equation, while a rotation that doesn’t rely on both back-rowers playing the full 80 has to be considered by Andrew Webster.
Those fixes our supercoach spruiked as easy after last week’s escape don’t seem so straightforward from the outside now, though.
NRL FINALS WEEK ONE: Dolphins 26 defeated Warriors 16 (Taine Tuaupiki try; Tuaupiki 6 goals) at Go Media Stadium, Auckland.
Your theory that we don't play our best when at home is alive and well.