In what could be one of the more entertaining matches of the NRL finals, the Dolphins will embark on their maiden top eight campaign by crossing the Tasman to face the red-hot New Zealand Warriors with a week off on the line.
This is essentially a battle of feel good story against feel good story.
The Dolphins, who joined the NRL in 2023, have been close without tasting finals over the last couple of years, but with a better run on the injury front this year and a number of players coming on in leaps and bounds, Kristian Woolf has steered his side to the promised land.
While they couldn't land a home qualifying final, they did more than enough to earn a second bite at the cherry, and will host in either Week 2 or Week 3.
The Dolphins have seemingly built their season around their attack once again.
After being the NRL's top point scorers in 2025, their moniker as the NRL's entertainers has gone nowhere this time around, with the Redcliffe-based outfit wracking up 682 points.
It's not quite the top of the mountain, but not all that far away.
What they have that no other club has is the ability to turn it on and put games away. They can score points from anywhere, and trouble even the most unstructured of defences.
What has improved this year for the Dolphins is the defence, where they sit with the fourth best record at the end of the regular season.
Given some issues consistency wise, and that it took them time to build in to their season while the all-important dummy half Jeremy Marshall-King was injured, their numbers being a little below some other sides is not a surprise.
That's not to say the Warriors numbers, and what Andrew Webster's side have achieved this year, should be sneezed at.
The Auckland-based side finished the regular season in second spot, 26 for and against points behind the all-conquering Penrith Panthers, who took out the minor premiership.
But the Warriors were in the mix for that prize right up until the final 80 minutes of the regular season.
They finished the campaign with the second-best defensive record, and have scored one more point than the Dolphins.
What was most impressive for the Warriors though was their ability to peak at the right time. They looked, of all teams, probably alongside the Dolphins, the most in-form as the run to the finals really ramped up, although their last two games against the Knights and Manly Sea Eagles will raise eyebrows.
They won both, but seemed to drift in and out of both games, and, given the Knights game came against 12 men for the most part, probably should have won by a lot more points.
Team news
New Zealand Warriors
1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Leka Halasima 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jackson Ford 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 20. Adam Pompey 21. Jett Cleary
The Warriors gave Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell a rest last week, so both return for Week 1 of the finals.
Samuel Healey drops back to the bench, and so too does impressive forward Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
Adam Pompey also drops back to the bench with Leka Halasima returning to the second-row, while Jackson Ford is back and will play from the bench in a huge boost to the WArriors middle third.
Morgan Gannon and Makaia Tafua make way.
The Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Tom Gilbert 11. Max Plath 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Francis Molo 17. Connelly Lemuelu 18. Felise Kaufusi 19. Brad Schneider 22. Tevita Naufahu
The Dolphins also welcome back a number of players from a rest. Selwyn Cobbo slots onto the wing, Kodi Nikorima goes to five-eighth and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to the second-row
Tevita Naufahu, Jake Averillo and Brian Pouniu drop out of the side to the reserve list, with Felise Kaufusi and Brad Schneider staying on the bench for the trip across the Tasman.
The history
Overall record: Played 8, Warriors 4, Dolphins 4
Record at Mt Smart Stadium: Played 3, Warriors 2, Dolphins 1
Record in finals: Never played
This season's matches:
Round 17: Dolphins 26 defeat Warriors 24 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Round 8: Warriors 20 defeat Dolphins 18 at Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Keys to the game
The impact of the Dolphins' back five
The Dolphins have one of the game's most dangerous back fives, and on paper, it's ahead of the Warriors.
The issue for the Warriors is that, on the edges, they have been defensively susceptible in the last couple of weeks.
The shuffle of Leka Halasima to the centres is a brilliant attacking move, but they have been vulnerable in defence.
Expect the Dolphins to make the most of that.
Jamayne Isaako, Jack Bostock, Herbie Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo are significant try-scoring threats on their worst day.
If they have a good one, they will ensure this is a high-scoring encounter, at least one way.
Winning the kicking game
Indirectly linked to the battle to contain the Dolphins' back five is the kicking game battle.
Do this well and it helps control the territory battle, which in turn limits the run metres and try-scoring opportunities for the outside backs.
The Warriors, through Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita, have done this pretty well in recent times, and it may be what has kept them in games.
But they will need to step it up in the finals, with Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima both kicking strongly.
How involved Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad can be
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad may not be at fullback for the Warriors as they run out for the start of the finals, but there is little doubt around his impact.
More and more, games are controlled by the back five. Pick up big metres, and you'll win.
That is the battle for the Warriors. Controlling the Dolphins, and finding enough metres of their own.
Nicoll-Klokstad leads that charge, and while some will suggest he should be at fullback, it's actually an area Taine Tuaupiki has improved enormously in this year.
The duo as a combination could be enough to keep the Warriors rolling.
The ruck speed battle
This game brings with it two of the game's best dummy halves.
Wayde Egan has been impressive for years, while Marshall-King's status there was really cemented this year by the way the Dolphins improved once he returned from injury.
Not bad for a guy who started his career as a half and merged into a stop-gap option at hooker.
Whichever team gives their dummy half more time to work with will be on the downhill run here. Both have excellent service, can kick, and love running the ball.
Expect whichever team's dummy half plays better, willwin.
Jackson Ford's return
It's hard to forget exactly how strong of a start to the year Warriors forward Jackson Ford had.
The middle forward was unreal for the Warriors, and sat near the top of the Dally M count when he was injured.
At full strength, Ford, who has an ability to play big minutes, comes off the bench to carry on the work set by Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris up front.
In many games he played though, he was the starter.
The Warriors have barely missed a beat without him, but it has been clear in some of their tougher, more physical games, that they have missed his presence.
He is a big in for the finals and could make a difference, tipping the scales of the bench battle in the favour of the Warriors.
Prediction
The Dolphins head across the Tasman with a point to prove, and probably the more strike of the two sides.
The Warriors have built their campaign off their defence, and that has looked shaky over the last fortnight.
Freshening up a couple of guys will help, but this game is a coin flip, and in that circumstance, the Dolphins simply have the better strike weapons to score points in a hurry.
No confidence at all in the game of the weekend.
Dolphins by 4.
Key game information: New Zealand Warriors vs The Dolphins, NRL qualifying final
Kick-off: Saturday, September 12, 4:05pm (AEST), 6:05pm (NZST)
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
TV: Live, Channel Nine, Fox League
Online: Live, 9Now, Kayo Sports
Betting: Warriors $1.63, Dolphins $2.28
Referee: Adam Gee
