The Dolphins have lost key forward Tom Flegler after he was knocked out of the first half against the Warriors in Auckland.

The Warriors were forced into a late change with Leka Halasima out with a hamstring injury. Adam Pompey came into the starting side, but was sent to the sin bin after a first-half shoulder charge.

Later, the Cronulla Sharks have a home game at the Sydney Football Stadium, not Shark Park, in an elimination final against the North Queensland Cowboys.

Meanwhile, the NRL has backed a pair of controversial calls against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in their elimination final loss last night to Newcastle.

Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:19pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:19pmNRL final live: Warriors vs Dolphins

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:56pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:56pm

40′ Warriors have one final chance in the first half

The 11-man Warriors have forced the 12-man Dolphins into a goal-line dropout with 50 seconds left in the first half.

The Dolphins kick long, backing their defence.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:55pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:55pm

James Fisher-Harris passes HIA and can return to the fieldSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:51pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm34′ SIN BIN: Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphin) and Kurt Capewell (Warriors) are off

Oh there is DRAMA.

Jackson Ford takes a run, appears to leap into Dolphin Isaiya Katoa, and Ford is flipped in the tackle.

Now there is a melee.

Isaiya Katoa is on report for the tackle.

Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphin) and Kurt Capewell (Warriors) have been sent to the sin bin for running into the melee.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:50pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:50pm

33′ Warriors defend their goal-line

The Dolphins had two chances to kick a penalty goal.

They were awarded a penalty in goal-kicking range when Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira was penalised for obstructing the kick chase.

The Dolphins tapped, going for the try.

Then there is another penalty when Jackson Ford stripped the ball.

The Dolphins went for the try, but dropped the ball.

Warriors 10

Dolphins 8

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:43pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:43pm28′ SIN BIN: Warrior Adam Pompey off for a shoulder charge

This is very silly from Adam Pompey.

From the kick-off, the centre   — who was a late inclusion into the starting side — has landed a shoulder charge.

Ref Adam Gee has no hesitation in sending Pompey to the sin bin.

Warriors 10

Dolphins 8

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:39pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:39pm26′ TRY: Selwyn Cobbo scores for the Dolphins

Wonderful from the Dolphins. The play was stopped as Warriors’ captain James Fisher-Harris went off the field for a HIA.

The huge crowd at Mt Smart Stadium was cheering loudly as Jackson Ford came on for Fisher-Harris, his first match since round 16.

That cheering was silenced immediately as the Dolphins went to the left, and Herbie Farnworth gave a beautiful pass to winger Selwyn Cobbo to put the Queenslander in the corner.

Jamayne Isaako converts from the left touchline.

Warriors 10

Dolphins 8

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:39pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:39pm

26′ Warrior James Fisher-Harris off for a HIA

Jackson Ford comes onto the field for his first match since round 16.

Warriors 10

Dolphins 2

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:34pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:34pm

Tom Flegler is ruled out with HIA

Tom Flegler has been graded a category 1 concussion, and he will not return tonight.

If the Dolphins lose tonight, he will not be available to play next week.

He will be out of concussion protocol for week three of the finals.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:33pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:33pm

21′ PENALTY GOAL: Warriors extend lead after successful challenge

The Warriors have marched deep into Dolphin territory.

Erin Clark loses the ball.

But the Warriors are challenging the call. Mitch Barnett ran a decoy line, and the Warriors say he was tackled off the ball.

Morgan Knowles hit Barnett, and the Bunker agrees with the Warriors that it is a penalty.

The Warriors keep their challenge; the Dolphins are blowing up, and Taine Tuaupiki kicks a penalty goal.

Warriors 10

Dolphins 2

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:25pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:25pm16′ TRY: Taine Tuaupiki scores for the Warriors

The Warriors have scored the first try of the match.

Fullback Taine Tuaupiki broke out of a few poor tackle attempts, then stepped past a few more to score.

The Dolphins were on the back foot after giving away a set restart.

Attacking the goal-line, Tuaupiki gets the ball on the right of the field and breaks the tackle of Kodi Nikorima.

Tuaupiki then steps off his right foot back towards the centre of the field, then steps past Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the try.

Tuaupiki converts from in front of the posts.

Warriors 8

Dolphins 2

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:24pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:24pm12′ PENALTY GOAL: Ref Adam Gee reverses penalty, Dolphins get two points

Ref Adam Gee has called a penalty for the Warriors, with Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira taken out in the air by Dolphin Jack Bostock.

Bostock is claiming that Khan-Pereira kicked his leg out in the air and hit him in the head — and the Bunker agrees.

The penalty is reversed, and Jamayne Isaako will kick a goal to level the score.

ABC Sport’s Luke Lewis is not a fan of the penalty reversal.

“That is not kicked out in the face. He did not reach his leg out and kick him in the face”

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:18pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:18pm

10′ Tom Flegler off for HIA

OH. Huge hit.

Mitch Barnett returned the kick-off and ran into Dolphins prop Tom Flegler.

Flegler falls straight to the ground and he looks in trouble.

Flegler is off for a HIA, and he may not be back this afternoon.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:16pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:16pm9′ PENALTY GOAL: Warriors score first

The Warriors have the first points of the day.

The Warriors put in an attacking grubber kick into the Dolphins’ in-goal.

Warriors player Kurt Capewell was taken out of the kick chase. It looked like Jack Bostock was the offending Dolphin.

Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki kicks the goal.

Warriors 2

Dolphins 0

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:14pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:14pm

6′ Dolphins with the first knock-on

The Warriors force the first knock-on of the afternoon.

Dolphin Kulikefu Finefeuiaki ran with the ball, and he was slammed to the turf by Warriors prop James Fisher-Harris.

The Warriors have a scrum from the halfway,

Warriors 0

Dolphins 0

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:12pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:12pm

4′ Warriors get first penalty of the match

It has been a great start.

Both teams are playing in the middle of the field.

The Warriors have the first penalty of the match for offside. Jeremy Marshall-King was the Dolphin penalised. The Warriors were deep in their own territory, so this penalty releases some pressure.

Warriors 0

Dolphins 0

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:08pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:08pmKICK-OFF: Warriors vs Dolphins

We are underway in Auckland.

The Warriors have the first use of the footy, running to the left of your screen.

The Warriors have a nice set, crossing halfway before kicking long.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:06pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:06pm

Listen to the ABC Sport live call of Warriors vs Dolphins

You can listen to the live ABC Sport call with commentator Andrew Moore, expert analysis by Luke Lewis, and Michael Carayannis on the sideline.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:03pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:03pmWarriors lose Leka Halasima with hamstring injury

We have a major update from Auckland.

Centre Leka Halasima is out, with a reported hamstring injury.

Adam Pompey (20) comes off the bench into the centres, and Jett Cleary comes onto the bench.

Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:00pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 4:00pm

Warriors vs Dolphins is just five minutes away

Arvo Michael. I enjoy watching both of these teams play so it’s hard to pick a favourite, but I’m going for the Warriors. NZ is one of my favourite places to visit- friendly people, beautiful landscapes and a great sports heritage. Good luck to them.

– KB

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