Two of the NRL’s most exciting and in-form teams collide in what shapes as the standout match of Week 1 of the finals. The Warriors will have the backing of a packed Go Media Stadium as they chase a direct path to the preliminary finals, while the Dolphins are determined to make a statement in the club’s first-ever finals appearance. With representative talent across the park and both sides entering September in outstanding form, this Auckland showdown promises to be a genuine finals classic.

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Matchday Details

Saturday, 12 September 2026 – 4:05pm AEST – Go Media Stadium, Auckland
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Adam Gee | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

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 (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jackson Ford, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20. Adam Pompey, 21. Jett Cleary, 22. Luke Laulilii, 23. Makaia Tafua

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jack Bostock, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 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. Bradley Schneider, 20. Jake Averillo, 21. Brian Pouniu, 22. Tevita Naufahu

Match Preview

Saturday night’s match (Auckland time) between the Warriors and Dolphins features two of the NRL’s sentimental favourites: ‘Up the Wahs’ vs ‘Phins Up’. The Warriors carry the hopes of a passionate fanbase desperate for that first-ever premiership and with two home finals up their sleeve; while the Dolphins enter their first finals game, eager to prove they belong among the NRL’s elite. Both sides are exciting in attack, though the Warriors will be hoping they can mend their recent edge defence issues, conceding a combined 62 points against Newcastle and Manly.

The Warriors and Dolphins are the form teams of the post-Origin period, with the Warriors losing just once in their last nine matches and the Dolphins losing just twice in their last nine matches. The Dolphins are on an incredible run of 15 wins from their last 17 games, which saw them grow from finals hopefuls to genuine premiership chances. But they won’t find their first finals game easy. The Warriors have won eight of their last nine home games, they have a seven-win, two-loss record at Go Media Stadium in 2026, and have won five of their last six Saturday matches at Go Media Stadium against Queensland teams.

But the Dolphins’ away record is good too, coming into this game having won four away games in a row and eight of their last nine away matches.

The Dolphins’ lack of finals experience is likely to be a factor, but then again, their team is full of players who have already played at Origin and International level: their starting 13 named have all played either State of Origin or International rugby league in recent seasons, and a number of them played Origin in 2026. The Warriors’ perceived advantage of having played finals isn’t compelling looking at the stats. The Warriors have won only one of their last five finals games and have won only one of their last six finals games on a Saturday. But they will have a passionate support at the ground, and not only an entire country cheering for them, but their success will be cheered by most neutrals and genuine rugby league lovers everywhere.

Team news is good news for the Wahs, with their forward stocks being bolstered by the return from injury of Jackson Ford, plus Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell returning from a rest last weekend. Adding more speed and power to the backline is Leka Halasima. Sadly, one of the potential entertainers for this match, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, is not ready to return from injury yet but could be next week. Just a shame we couldn’t add a battle of spectacular tries between him and Selwyn Cobbo for this weekend. Perhaps we’ll just have to wait for that in the Grand Final.

Those recent additions to the forward pack give the Warriors a small advantage over the Dolphins, with the returning players joining the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Mitchell Barnett, and Erin Clark. Not to mention Jacob Laban, who – similarly to the Dolphins’ Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – has had huge impacts on their team’s great run of form; Laban’s recent form is career-best, if not his hairstyle. The Dolphins’ pack are hard-working, but can lack a little impact in comparison, and in Thomas Flegler and Tom Gilbert they have two potential hotheads – which may not be ideal in finals where cheap territory and possession can be punished.

But talking of punishment, the Dolphins bench has a few players capable of dishing that out, and not only does it have a slight edge over the Warriors’ bench, the Dolphins bench has actually been key to a lot of their good recent form, often overturning many slow starts. The Dolphins have scored the first try just seven times this season, compared to the Warriors’ 14 times. Kurt Donoghoe’s impact off the bench has been immense for the Dolphins, as has Ray Stone who surprised many with his rugby league retirement announcement and very few with an intention to try-out MMA or boxing.

Both backlines are full of attacking stars, and while one could argue the better three-quarters, a strength few would disagree with for the Dolphins over the Warriors is their stable and outstanding halves combination. The teams may have had differing luck with injuries to their halves this season, but the Dolphins duo have been outstanding: Kodi Nikorima is probably having the season of his career and Isaiya Katoa is getting closer to the Nathan Cleary heir that he has worn around his neck since debuting for the Dolphins. This finals series is a great chance for Katoa to prove he is ready for the next level of his career by shining in the biggest of arenas. A full Go Media Stadium in your team’s first-ever finals game is a good place to start.

The teams are both in form, with weapons everywhere on the field, and it should be an entertaining contest. It should be a tight contest too based on the last three seasons – the six games since 2024 have been decided by either two or four points. The final stat to share doesn’t favour the Dolphins: no team has won consecutive games in this fixture.

It may be cliched, but this game may be truly one where rugby league is the winner. The best part is both of these teams could meet again this season.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Warriors by 2.
Week 1 Finals tips → /nrl-week-1-finals-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Warriors to score first, and last, with the final try in the final minute.

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Shannon Meyer
http://www.thegurgler.com/
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