The Warriors have jumped back up to second on the ladder after a tense 20-18 ANZAC Day win over the Dolphins in Wellington.
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Points flowed in the first half, but only one try was scored after the break. That was the Warriors’ matchwinner.
With the Dolphins leading 18-14, fullback Taine Tuaupiki sliced through from close range to score in the 62nd minute.
It was a costly play for the Dolphins on two fronts. Prop Tom Flegler collected Ali Leiataua high which knocked out the centre and forced him out of the game.
Tuaupiki dummied to Leiataua before scoring, with Flegler taking Leiataua out without the ball.
It started a small fracas with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sizing up to Flegler before the Dolphins middle ended up being sent to the sin bin for the off the ball tackle.
“I understand it is a head clash, however he’s raced out of the line and there is an elevated risk of injury,” referee Liam Kennedy explained as he sent Flegler to the bin.
The result marked three wins in a row for the Warriors while the Dolphins slumped to a fourth straight loss.
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BIG HITS
BREAK THE DUCK
The Warriors had only won one of their past 11 Anzac Day clashes heading into this fixture dating back to 2015.
But their first clash in Wellington on the historic date proved a circuit breaker as they got the two points in front of a sold-out crowd.
The Warriors have never missed finals after winning six of their first eight games of the season.
DOLPHINS SLIP ‘N SLIDE
All the signs heading into 2026 suggested the Dolphins were primed to play finals for the first time, but it’s been a rocky start.
They’ve won just two of their opening seven games and now sit 12th on the ladder in Kristian Woolf’s second season in charge.
The Dolphins only just missed a maiden finals berth last season, finishing ninth, but now face an uphill battle to make history in 2026.
TRY SCORING MACHINE
Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira extended his prolific try-scoring record with a first-half double on Saturday night.
Khan-Pereira made his NRL debut at the Titans in 2023 and scored 44 tries in his first two seasons on the Gold Coast.
But after making just 10 appearances last season he joined the Warriors in the off-season on a three-year deal.
After bagging two tries in his second game of the season against his former club last week, Khan-Pereira backed it up with another brace against the Dolphins.
It means the 24-year-old has now scored 57 tries in 57 NRL games but will still be fighting to keep his place in the side with several Warriors stars set to return next week.
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JUDICIARY WATCH
Leka Halasima was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Tom Gilbert in the 9th minute. Has an unrelated charge in round 19 last season.
Meanwhile, Thomas Flegler was sin binned and placed on report after a careless high tackle on Ali Leiataua in the 64th minute. Has one related charge in the previous 12 months and a further three dating back to 2021.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was placed on report in the 70th minute for a hip drop tackle on Tevita Naufahu. He has one other unrelated charge in round 26 last season
Max Plath was also placed on report in the 75th minute for a hip drop tackle on Leka Halasima. He has no charges within the previous 12 months but has one in 2024.
STAT ATTACK (Fox Lab)
– Fifth straight match between the two teams decided by four points or less. Only Raiders against Cowboys from 2004-07 had more consecutive matches decided by four points or less since the Warriors entered the competition in 1995.
– Four straight wins for the Warriors at HNRY Stadium in Wellington and five in their past six. Won seven of their past nine matches in New Zealand away from Go Media Stadium
– Dolphins have now lost four straight games. Their longest losing run since five straight losses when they lost their final match of 2024 and started the 2025 season 0-4
– Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored 2 tries for the 19th time in his career. Has 57 tries in 57 games including doubles in back to back games
– Jamayne Isaako scored his 17th career double. Missed a two point field goal attempt in the 80th minute that would have forced the game into Golden Point
– Fox Lab POTM was Erin Clark. He had two linebreaks, 19 tackles and ran for 139 metres, including a match best 66 post contact metres.
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