Matchday Details
Saturday, 25 April 2026 – 6:00pm AEST (8:00pm local) – Sky Stadium, Wellington
📺 Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Liam Kennedy | Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
New Zealand Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Mitchell Barnett, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jacob Laban, 18. Marata Niukore, 20. Luke Hanson, 21. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 22. Adam Pompey, 23. Makaia Tafua
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Bradley Schneider, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 8. Tom Gilbert, 9. Max Plath, 10. Francis Molo, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Ray Stone, 15. Thomas Flegler, 16. Felise Kaufusi, 17. Trai Fuller, 18. Lewis Symonds, 19. Tevita Naufahu, 20. Brian Pouniu, 21. Oryn Keeley, 22. John Fineanganofo
Match Preview
The Warriors will look to strengthen their top-four credentials when they meet the Dolphins on ANZAC Day at Hnry Stadium in Wellington. For the visitors, the task is just as urgent – the Dolphins arrive desperate to halt a three‑game losing streak, having not tasted victory since their March 21 win over Cronulla.
This fixture sits at an important junction for both clubs. The Warriors are building momentum and chasing a third consecutive victory, with their recent wins over Melbourne and Gold Coast defined by rising physicality and defensive resolve. The Dolphins’ season, by contrast, has been uneven. They were blown off the park by Manly at Kayo Stadium in Kieran Foran’s coaching debut but responded last week in Darwin by pushing Penrith deep into golden point, rallying from 18‑0 down to score 22 unanswered points after half-time before falling short.
Andrew Webster will be broadly satisfied with the Warriors’ opening stretch to the season despite back-to-back losses to the Tigers and Sharks earlier in the campaign. Their victory over Melbourne marked a shift in narrative – blending attacking flair with defensive brutality – and signalled a change after seasons of Storm dominance in the matchup. It was a performance that suggested a genuine step forward rather than a one‑off.
The Dolphins will take confidence from Darwin despite the defeat. Their second‑half surge showed the attacking potency that had deserted them across losses to Brisbane and Manly. Herbie Farnworth ignited the comeback, with Hamiso Tabuai‑Fidow quick to follow, reminding competitors that when the Dolphins click, their speed and width can stretch even elite defensive systems.
Selection news adds intrigue. The Warriors will be without Charnze Nicoll‑Klokstad after he suffered a neck injury, although the layoff is expected to be short. Reinforcements loom, with Luke Metcalf, Te Maire Martin and Morgan Gannon all tracking toward a Round 9 return. The Dolphins, meanwhile, lose Kodi Nikorima for the next two matches following his suspension, forcing an untested halves pairing of Isaiya Katoa and Brad Schneider. Jack Bostock, Kurt Donoghoe and Daniel Saifiti also remain sidelined, although the club received a boost this week with Selwyn Cobbo re‑signing through to the end of 2027.
Tactically, the contest shapes as a contrast in methods. The Warriors possess one of the competition’s stronger forward packs and will aim to impose themselves through the middle, whereas the Dolphins will attempt to counter that power with speed and agility. Their second‑half success in Darwin came from attacking fatigued defenders through the Panthers’ middle before shifting wide – a tactic that may be harder to replicate in Wellington’s cooler conditions, where fatigue is less of a factor.
Both sides will also be keen to address lapses from last weekend. The Warriors raced out to a 22‑0 lead over the Titans before conceding three tries in the final twelve minutes, while the Dolphins were error‑ridden early against Penrith, trailing 18‑0 at the break before clawing their way back into the contest. The blend of flair and muscle on display suggests an intriguing battle if both teams commit to the full eighty.
Up front, the Warriors are well served. Jackson Ford has been outstanding in the opening phase of the season, his consistency and work rate putting him on the fringe of wider selection conversations. The Dolphins are anchored by Tom Gilbert, who continues to build match fitness after an injury‑ruined 2025 campaign and now shoulders much of the leadership load.
In the halves, much rests on Katoa rediscovering the spark he showed during the Dolphins’ resurgence in Darwin. His combination with Schneider remains largely untested at NRL level. For the Warriors, Tanah Boyd’s development has been one of the quieter success stories of the year – already producing more try assists in fewer games than last season and playing with a confidence that suggests genuine progression.
Out wide, Farnworth looms as a major threat. He was in scintillating form before suffering a hamstring injury in the previous meeting between these sides, an absence that coincided with a downturn in the Dolphins’ finals push. He returns here with confidence. Across the park, Leka Halasima continues his rapid development in first grade. With 17 tries in 36 appearances, the Warriors will again look to him as a genuine finishing option close to the line.
A key matchup to watch unfolds between Roger Tuivasa‑Sheck and Farnworth. In his final NRL season, Tuivasa‑Sheck has increasingly acted as a facilitator, popping up in support plays that have underpinned several Warriors tries. Farnworth, meanwhile, has built a reputation as one of the competition’s most effective intercept merchants. Whichever player dominates this duel may provide the decisive swing.
Ultimately, possession and discipline may tell the story. The Warriors rank second in the league for possession, while the Dolphins sit near the bottom and carry the lowest completion rate at 75 percent. Against a side capable of capitalising on repeat sets, the Dolphins must tidy their execution, particularly against a Warriors team completing at 84 percent and punishing lapses ruthlessly.
History provides mixed signals. The Warriors’ overall record in Wellington stands at four wins, six losses and one draw, but they have claimed victory in their past three appearances at Hnry Stadium. Adding extra meaning to the occasion, Chanel Harris‑Tavita will run out for his 100th NRL game.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Warriors by 6
Bold call: Herbie Farnworth has a major influence and keeps the Dolphins in contention until the final ten minutes.
Related
- NRL Round 8 Predictions
- NRL Round 8 Team Lists
- NRL Round 8 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
