The Warriors are sure to be smarting after giving up a 16-8 lead with 20 minutes to play against the Dolphins to consign themselves to a sudden-death showdown with the Knights at Eden Park.

All looked to be going to plan for Andrew Webster’s men until Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow clicked into gear and turned Go Media Stadium into their own personal playground.

They must now regroup for a contest against a Knights team capable of scintillating attack on its day with Kalyn Ponga, Bradman and Fletcher Sharpe laying the foundation for prolific wingers Dom Young and Greg Marzhew to strike.

The last time the sides met in Round 26 the points flowed freely in a 46-32 Warriors victory but in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a ‘loser goes home’ final, expect a much tighter battle.

Awaiting the winner are the Penrith Panthers, the greatest team of the modern era, and the perfect measuring stick for two clubs looking to break premiership droughts that stretch back 31 years (Warriors) and 25 years (Knights).

Team News

Warriors: A cruel blow for Jackson Ford who played just 24 minutes against the Dolphins in his return from a pectoral injury and is now sidelined again with an ankle injury. His place on the bench is taken by Morgan Gannon. After being a late withdrawal last week with a hamstring twinge suffered in the warm-up, Leka Halasima is listed among the reserves. Also named in the extended squad is winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who has been sidelined since Round 25 when he suffered a broken collarbone against Souths.

Knights: Gun back-rower Dylan Lucas has been sidelined since Round 21 with a fractured ankle suffered against the Roosters but he has been named among the reserves as he makes a late bid to get back on the paddock in 2026. The Knights have named the same 19-man squad that took care of the Rabbitohs in last week’s elimination final.

Stat Attack

The Warriors have won six of their last seven games against the Knights.
The Knights have not won in New Zealand since 2019.
The Warriors have lost five of their six games played at Eden Park.
Knights winger Greg Marzhew requires one try to equal the club’s record for most tries in a season.
The Warriors require two tries and five points to break club records for most tries and points in a season.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.