Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 23 clash between the Dolphins and the Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Dolphins V the New Zealand Warriors
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Sunday August 11, 2pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
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. Max Plath, 10. Tevita Pangai Junior, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Connelly Lemuelu, 13. Kenny Bromwich, 14. Oryn Keeley, 15. Mark Nicholls, 16. Ray Stone, 17. Sean O’Sullivan, 18. Lachlan Hubner, 19. Tesi Niu, 20. Anthony Milford, 21. Mason Teague, 22. Trai Fuller
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 5. Edward Kosi, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Marata Niukore, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Dylan Walker, 14. Freddy Lussick, 15. Tom Ale, 16. Jazz Tevaga, 17. Leka Halasima, 18. Te Maire Martin, 20. Demitric Sifakula, 21. Taine Tuaupiki, 22. Moala Graham-Taufa, 23. Bunty Afoa
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Dolphins host the Warriors with both sides looking to arrest their recent form slumps and hang on to their razor thin hopes of playing finals football.
The Dolphins were sat firmly inside the top four earlier in the season but just one win in their past six clashes sees them teetering on the edge of playoff contention in ninth place.
The Warriors form is not much better, scraping two wins from their last six and requiring a minor miracle to factor into finals from their current position of twelfth.
The Dolphins took the fight to the Roosters in their last start, falling to a 40-34 loss in Perth and will return to Queensland with a point to prove. The midseason surprise packets have struggled on the defensive end recently, having to go all the way back to round 11 to see the last time they conceded less than 20 points.
If the ‘Phins can fix up their defensive deficiencies, they have shown they have the creativity and guile to put points on the board and will see this matchup as a prime opportunity to play themselves back into form.
The Warriors had the setup for a perfect storm last week, but with their season on the line and in front of a packed-out stadium full of home faithful against the lowly Eels, they barely manage a drizzle.
The boys from across the ditch will be looking for a much stronger performance to cap off an emotional week, with club and kiwi legend Shaun Johnson announcing his retirement at the end of the 24′ season. Shaun may not have reached the dizzying highs he reached last year but will be looking to end his time in the NRL on a high and this Warriors outfit will be keen to do everything they can to help.
The battle between between livewire fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and the workhorse Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad could be absolutely anything with both of them being able to impact the game in so many ways if given the chance.
On a hopefully dry Queensland track, will the fleet-footed “Hammer” stamp his mark on the game woth a flash of brilliance or will the tireless and consistent efforts of CNK see him get his side over the line? I for one cannot wait to find out.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Dolphins by 8.
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