The Warriors’ hopes of a direct route to the NRL Grand Final have ended, after the Dolphins beat them 26-16 in a qualifying final at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on 12 September 2026.
The Warriors led 12-8 at halftime in front of their home crowd, but the Dolphins scored three unanswered converted tries in the final 20 minutes to snatch the win. It was the Warriors’ first loss all season after leading at halftime.
Fullback Taine Tuaupiki was the shining light for the Warriors, scoring their only try and adding a conversion and five penalty goals for all of their 16 points. The Dolphins scored four tries in total, with Jamayne Isaako kicking all of their conversions.
The match had a dramatic finish, with Warriors centre Adam Pompey and Dolphins winger Selwyn Cobbo both sent to the sin bin during a heated melee, along with the Dolphins’ Kurt Capewell.
Despite the loss, it has still been the Warriors’ best-ever season, finishing with 18 wins and scoring 728 points, the eighth-most in NRL history. League legend Awen Guttenbeil said he still believed in the team. “When a team’s winning, everyone wants a piece of it. I’m confident the boys will get the job done, but finals footy, anything can happen,” he said.
The Warriors now have another chance to book their spot in the next round.
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