Both the Warriors and Dolphins will be sweating on Saturday’s match review committee findings after two enforcers were sent to the bin during Friday’s fiery trial match in Sydney.

The Dolphins stormed home to win 38-34 with three tries in the final 11 minutes, with both teams facing a nervous trip home from Sydney.

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MATCH CENTRE: Warriors vs Dolphins teams, scores, updates

Key Warriors forward Jackson Ford was sent to the sin bin for a textbook hip-drop tackle, while Francis Molo could also be in hot water.

Ford was fantastic up front for the Warriors last season and had gotten off to a great start on Friday night when he charged onto a Wayde Egan short ball to open the scoring.

But he found himself in the sin bin in the 12th minute for an ugly tackle on Selwyn Cobbo who was able to play on.

The Warriors can ill-afford to lose Ford to suspension with a big round one showdown looming against the Roosters, with their coach Trent Robinson and his assistants at Leichhardt Oval to study the opposition.

Jackson Ford and Francis Molo were both sent to the sin bin on Friday night. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Molo also spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for making direct contact with his shoulder to Ford’s head in a tackle gone wrong in the second half, with Tom Flegler a starting option if he’s suspended.

Veteran Kurt Capewell was also in pain after making a tackle late in the first half and did not return after the break, with wrecking ball Leka Halasima on standby if required.

Kurt Capewell appeared to suffer an injury late in the first half. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

COMBINATIONS

Tanah Boyd has all but secured a starting spot for round one as the Warriors deal with a massive injury toll in the halves.

Luke Metcalf (knee) won’t be back until at least round eight, while Te Maire Martin (leg) is set to miss the opening three months of the season.

Boyd had some nice touches on Friday with a grubber to force a repeat set, with his style of play to complement Chanel Harris-Tavita in the early rounds.

For the Dolphins, Trai Fuller continues to be a selection nightmare for coach Kristian Woolf who said on Thursday that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow would play fullback this season.

Fuller is a livewire at the back who created all sorts of problems for the defence with five tackle busts, a try assist and a try of his own when he moved to left centre.

RECRUIT WATCH

It’s still unclear where Cobbo will play this season after he lined up in a couple of different roles for his new club.

The former Bronco started on the left wing and scored the Dolphins’ first try of the evening before he shifted to right centre later in the half.

Fellow recruit Brad Schneider had a tough start defensively with three missed tackles after he was sat on his back a few times by the Warriors, but he got his revenge with a very soft try out of dummy-half.

ROOKIE WATCH

Luke Hanson wouldn’t have been on too many depth charts a few weeks ago, but he could be a bench bolter later in the season given all the injuries they’re dealing with.

He played five-eighth for the team that won the reserve grade title last year and had a line-break with a nice run down the left edge on Friday.

Wayde Egan has the craftiness to take the Warriors back to the finals. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

HOT TAKE

No team scored more points than the Dolphins in 2025, but they’ll surpass the 721 mark this season and will also make the top eight for the first time.

They have enough attacking stars to regularly score five tries a game, with their forward pack looking much healthier this season.

FINAL SAY

The Warriors are one of the hardest teams to place this season, but it would take a brave person to leave them out of your top eight given the quality they’ve got across the park.

Erin Clark has turned into the best lock in the world and is the perfect link for this team, with their high completions and strike out wide enough to trouble most teams if Egan continues to scheme his way around the ruck.

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MATCH PREVIEW

The New Zealand Warriors take on the Dolphins in a Pre-season Challenge double header at Leichhardt Oval.

The Warriors will welcome back several players this week, but will still be without a handful of stars. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Taine Tuaupiki headline the returnees.

Meanwhile, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Marata Niukore and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have all been rested as they race the clock for Round 1.

For the Dolphins Trai Fuller has been handed the fullback role and will have one last attempt to push his case for Round 1 selection.

There have been whispers that he will play fullback this year, but with no Hamsio Tabuai-Fidow playing this week, fans will have to wait and see if it’s true or not.

Herbie Farnworth and Kodi Nikorima will run out for the first time this weekend, while Brent Woolf – the nephew of coach Krisitan Woolf – has been granted a spot on the reserves after being named in the All Stars clash.

TEAMS

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Haizyn Mellars 6. Luke Hanson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Morgan Gannon 16. Leka Halasima 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 18. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Kayliss Fatialofa 22. Jack Thompson 23. Makaia Tafua 24. Motu Pasikala 25. Sio Kali 26. Caelys-paul Putoko 27. Geronimo Doyle 28. Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea 29. Paea Sikuvea

Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Brad Schneider 10. Tom Gilbert 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Tevita Naufahu 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. John Fineanganofo 18. Sebastian Su’a 19. Elijah Rasmussen 20. Brian Pouniu 21. Zac Garton 22. Brent Woolf 23. Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke 24. Sangstar Figota 25. Noah Fien 26. Elijah McKay