Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 12 clash between the Warriors and Dolphins.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors v The Dolphins
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Date: Sunday May 26, 2:00pm (Aus Time)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. TBA, 9. Freddy Lussick, 10. Bunty Afoa, 11. Jackson Ford, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Dylan Walker, 14. Tom Ale, 15. Jazz Tevaga, 16. Jacob Laban, 17. Marata Niukore, 18. Paul Roache, 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 21. Zyon Maiu’u, 22. Edward Kosi, 23. Moala Graham-Taufa
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Jack Bostock, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Mark Nicholls, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Euan Aitken, 13. Max Plath, 14. Josh Kerr, 15. Kenny Bromwich, 16. Ray Stone, 17. Connelly Lemuelu, 18. Oryn Keeley, 19. Sean O’Sullivan, 20. Jarrod Wallace, 21. Kurt Donoghoe, 22. Trai Fuller
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
An interesting clash awaits on Sunday for another sell-out game in Auckland as the Warriors and Dolphins meet, both teams fresh from good results in last weekend’s Magic Round.
For the Warriors it doesn’t get much better than snapping a four-game losing streak by beating the all-conquering Panthers in front of a full house at Suncorp Stadium with plenty of Warriors support. They had to overcome a deficit three times during the match and hold on for the final 10 minutes against a side not used to losing. With their first bye coming after this match, a win on Sunday would be great momentum heading into the second half of the season.
The Warriors are still without star halfback Shaun Johnson, but certainly didn’t suffer last weekend with Te Maire Martin in the halfback position, as he conjured up three try assists and four line break assists in Magic Round. Having Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at five-eighth and Taine Tuaupiki at fullback didn’t hurt either, as Tuaupiki made two line breaks, ran for nearly 200 metres, and his goal kick ultimately decided the contest.
The Warriors are also without another big name in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and are also missing hooker Wayde Egan – but he is replaced in the starting side by Freedy Lussick. Centre Ali Leiataua has also been replaced by Rocco Berry. Addin Fonua-Blake was a late withdrawal after “breaching club standards” during the Panthers game.
Onto the Dolphins and they arrive in New Zealand on a good run of results, with their scrappy win over the Wests Tigers keeping them in the top four for another week, and they are aiming for a fourth straight win for the first time in their short history. Not bad given the last two weeks of NRL news have been dominated by their current head coach’s next job search.
The Dolphins have had a relatively easy run to start the season: this is just their second trip outside of Queensland and they have played the Wests Tigers twice at Suncorp Stadium and they have only played two games against top eight sides from 2023 and lost both – but other teams with favourable early season draws aren’t sitting in the top four with a 7-3 win record.
The Dolphins have had injury worries themselves this season but did welcome back Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow last weekend; he was electric for them scoring a double and looking as good as ever. Returning for this Round 12 clash is lock Max Plath, who has been one of the Dolphins’ best in 2024 and continues to win admirers. His industry on the field has pushed Kenny Bromwich back to the bench but the starting side is usually a bit fluid from the Tuesday Team List side. Good news for Ray Stone fans, and there are plenty in Phinland, that the Dolphins announced on Wednesday that he has been re-signed for another two seasons.
But for all the good recent results from the Dolphins, there’s a feeling that the Warriors’ big win last weekend will parlay into this weekend’s clash in front of a big, vocal home support. The Warriors have won four of their last five at Mt Smart Stadium on a Sunday plus five of their last six there vs Queensland sides on a Sunday. Stats are against the Dolphins too, with their record for away games outside of Queensland sitting at W2 L6. The Dolphins were a little lucky to get away with a win last weekend against the Tigers, and a better side would have beaten them. A side like the Warriors will beat them this weekend if the Dolphins play similarly.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Warriors by 8 points.
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