The Warriors vs Dolphins record is 4–4 after eight NRL games. Kick-off time, team news and the numbers behind the 2026 qualifying final at Go Media Stadium.
Warriors vs Dolphins: Head-to-Head Record and 2026 Qualifying Final
Eight NRL games, four wins each, and two points between them on aggregate: 174 to 172. That is the Warriors vs Dolphins head-to-head record going into their 2026 qualifying final at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 12 September, and the recent games have been even closer than the totals suggest.
The last six meetings were all decided by four points or fewer, and four of them by two points. This page sets out the full record, the two games played in 2026, how each side finished the season, the named teams and what is riding on Saturday’s result.
What this article answers: When the 2026 Warriors v Dolphins qualifying final kicks off, what the full head-to-head record says, and what each result means for both teams’ path to the grand final.
Main points
- The qualifying final is at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Saturday 12 September 2026, kicking off at 6:05pm NZST.
- The NRL head-to-head is 4–4 after eight games since 2023, with the Warriors ahead 174–172 on points.
- Each of the last six meetings was decided by four points or fewer, and the home side has won six of the eight.
- The winner gets a week off before a preliminary final; the loser hosts a semi-final against the winner of Rabbitohs v Knights.
- It is the Dolphins’ first NRL finals game, in their fourth season.
4–4NRL wins each since 2023
174–172Warriors’ points v Dolphins’ points
6Straight meetings decided by four points or fewer
6:05pmSaturday kick-off (NZST) at Go Media Stadium
Warriors vs Dolphins qualifying final: kick-off and what is at stake
The second qualifying final is second against third. The Warriors host the Dolphins at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Saturday 12 September 2026, with kick-off at 6:05pm NZST and gates opening at 4:30pm, according to Auckland Stadiums. It is the third time in four years that the NRL finals have come to Mt Smart.
Only two competition points separated the sides at the end of the regular season. The Warriors finished on 42, level with minor premiers Penrith but behind them on points differential, and the Dolphins were one win back on 40.
Qualifying finals give the top four a second chance, so Saturday decides the route rather than the season:
- Winner: a week off, then a preliminary final on 25–27 September against the winner of the semi-final between the Panthers v Roosters loser and the Sharks v Cowboys winner.
- Loser: a home semi-final on 18–20 September against the winner of Friday night’s elimination final between the Rabbitohs and the Knights. Win that, and a preliminary final against the Panthers v Roosters winner follows.
A draw is not possible. If the scores are level after 80 minutes, finals go to golden point extra time, which continues until one team scores. Our NRL finals 2026 guide has the full schedule and a bracket tool to play out the rest of the series.
Warriors vs Dolphins head-to-head record
| Date | Venue | Result | Margin | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jun 2023 | Go Media Stadium, Auckland | Warriors 30–8 Dolphins | Warriors by 22 | 23,686 |
| 2 Sep 2023 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Dolphins 34–10 Warriors | Dolphins by 24 | 35,438 |
| 26 May 2024 | Go Media Stadium, Auckland | Warriors 24–20 Dolphins | Warriors by 4 | 23,116 |
| 11 Aug 2024 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Dolphins 34–32 Warriors | Dolphins by 2 | 28,056 |
| 17 May 2025 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Warriors 16–12 Dolphins | Warriors by 4 | 32,165 |
| 1 Aug 2025 | Go Media Stadium, Auckland | Dolphins 20–18 Warriors | Dolphins by 2 | 23,012 |
| 25 Apr 2026 | Hnry Stadium, Wellington | Warriors 20–18 Dolphins | Warriors by 2 | 34,812 |
| 27 Jun 2026 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Dolphins 26–24 Warriors | Dolphins by 2 | 40,465 |
The first two meetings were one-sided, in opposite directions. The Warriors won 30–8 at Mt Smart in June 2023, and the Dolphins replied with a 34–10 win at Suncorp three months later. Since then the fixture has been as even as they come: six games, three wins each, and no margin bigger than four points.
Home ground has mattered most. The home side has won six of the eight games, and the only away wins came in 2025, when the Warriors won 16–12 in Brisbane in May and the Dolphins won 20–18 in Auckland in August. At Go Media Stadium the Warriors lead 2–1, with 72 points to 48.
The two Warriors v Dolphins games of 2026
Round 8: Warriors 20, Dolphins 18 in Wellington
The first 2026 meeting was a Warriors home game taken to Wellington on Saturday 25 April, in front of 34,812 people. The Dolphins led 18–14 at half-time, and the Warriors kept them scoreless in the second half to win 20–18.
Round 17: Dolphins 26, Warriors 24 in Brisbane
The rematch at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 27 June drew 40,465, the biggest crowd for any game between the clubs. A Dolphins try in the final minute settled it 26–24 and levelled the season series at one win each.
How the Warriors and Dolphins finished 2026
| Warriors | Dolphins | |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder position | 2nd | 3rd |
| Wins–losses | 18–6 | 17–7 |
| Competition points | 42 | 40 |
| Points for | 728 | 662 |
| Points against | 418 | 506 |
| Points differential | +310 | +156 |
| Winning run into the finals | 6 games | 7 games |
The Warriors scored more points than any other team, 728, and conceded 88 fewer than the Dolphins. Their six-game winning run ended with a 31–30 win over Manly in the final round, sealed by a Chanel Harris-Tavita field goal. Their full season is on our NRL results page.
The Dolphins’ season came in streaks. They lost five of their first seven games, won eight in a row from Round 9, then lost twice, including a 66–0 defeat by Cronulla in Round 19 that accounts for a big share of the points they conceded. They have won every game since, seven straight, to finish third.
Warriors v Dolphins team news
Both teams were named on Tuesday, and the final line-ups are confirmed an hour before kick-off; our NRL team lists guide explains the timing.
Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki starts at fullback. Hooker Wayde Egan and second-rower Kurt Capewell return after being rested, centre Leka Halasima is back from injury, and prop Jackson Ford is on the bench for his first game since Round 16. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Luke Metcalf, Tannah Boyd and Luke Laulilii remain out.
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is at fullback and Jamayne Isaako, the NRL’s leading point-scorer this season with 280, is on the wing. Selwyn Cobbo, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Kodi Nikorima return after missing the final round, and the Dolphins go in close to full strength.
| No. | Warriors | Dolphins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taine Tuaupiki | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow |
| 2 | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad | Jamayne Isaako |
| 3 | Ali Leiataua | Jack Bostock |
| 4 | Leka Halasima | Herbie Farnworth |
| 5 | Alofiana Khan-Pereira | Selwyn Cobbo |
| 6 | Chanel Harris-Tavita | Kodi Nikorima |
| 7 | Te Maire Martin | Isaiya Katoa |
| 8 | James Fisher-Harris | Thomas Flegler |
| 9 | Wayde Egan | Jeremy Marshall-King |
| 10 | Mitchell Barnett | Tom Gilbert |
| 11 | Kurt Capewell | Max Plath |
| 12 | Jacob Laban | Kulikefu Finefeuiaki |
| 13 | Erin Clark | Morgan Knowles |
What the numbers mean for a Warriors v Dolphins bet
Six straight games decided by four points or fewer is the most useful number here. In a line (handicap) bet, a start of a couple of points can decide the result.
Suppose the line had been 2.5 points in the Warriors’ favour in each of the last six meetings. The Warriors won three of those games outright, but a Warriors −2.5 bet would have won only two, because the April 2026 win was by two points. A Dolphins +2.5 bet would have won the other four. The calculator below settles any line with any score.
Warriors v Dolphins line calculator
Enter a line and the final score to see how a handicap bet settles
Team A
Team A score
Team B
Team B score
Line on Team A
Decimal odds
Stake ($)
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Educational tool from Sports-Betting.nz. Results are estimates — the bet slip or official dividend always decides. 18+ only. Free, confidential help: Gambling Helpline 0800 654 655 or text 8006.
Head-to-head history is context, not a forecast. Squads change from year to year, and both teams arrive on long winning runs. If the game goes to golden point, check how your market is settled, because the rules on extra time differ between bet types.
Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator allowed to offer online sports betting to people in New Zealand, and you must be 18 or over. Our NRL betting tips guide explains how NRL markets are priced, and the TAB NZ overview covers deposit limits and time-outs.
Please read: This page is general sports information for readers aged 18 and over. It is not betting, financial or legal advice, and it does not encourage anyone to gamble. Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator allowed to offer online racing and sports betting to people in New Zealand.
If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006. The Problem Gambling Foundation also offers free counselling.
Reference sources
- Rugby League Project — Dolphins vs Warriors head-to-head summary
- Rugby League Project — Dolphins vs Warriors results list
- Rugby League Project — Dolphins 2026 results
- RNZ — Warriors v Dolphins NRL qualifying final: kick-off time, team list, injuries
- RNZ — NRL finals schedule: who plays who and how the Warriors can make the grand final
- Auckland Stadiums — NRL Finals: One NZ Warriors vs Dolphins 2026
FAQs
What is the Warriors vs Dolphins head-to-head record?
It is 4–4 after eight NRL premiership games since the Dolphins joined the competition in 2023. The Warriors have scored 174 points in those games and the Dolphins 172.
When does the Warriors v Dolphins qualifying final start?
Saturday 12 September 2026 at 6:05pm NZST, at Go Media Stadium (Mt Smart) in Auckland. Gates open at 4:30pm.
What happens to the Warriors if they lose to the Dolphins?
Their season continues. As a qualifying-final loser, the Warriors would host a semi-final on the weekend of 18–20 September against the winner of the Rabbitohs v Knights elimination final.
Have the Dolphins played in the NRL finals before?
No. Saturday’s game is the Dolphins’ first NRL finals match, in their fourth season since joining the competition in 2023.
Who won the last Warriors v Dolphins game?
The Dolphins won 26–24 at Suncorp Stadium in Round 17, on 27 June 2026. A try in the final minute settled it.
How close are Warriors v Dolphins games?
Very close lately. The last six meetings were all decided by four points or fewer, and four of them by two points.
