![\"Eddie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4JMDC0X_260627DolphinsWarriors059_jpg.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAnalysis: Despite three losses from their last four games, NZ Warriors sense they are almost where they need to be, as they dream of their first NRL premiership.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins needed a last-gasp, slightly opportunist try from enigmatic wing Selwyn Cobbo to steal a 26-24 win at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, after their guests had snatched what seemed a gamewinning try of their own just moments before.<\/p>\n
The finish was somewhat reminiscent of the corresponding encounter at Go Media Stadium last August, when the Dolphins scored in the final minute for victory.<\/p>\n
The last six encounters between these rivals have now been decided by four points or less.<\/p>\n
“There’s something about these two teams,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster mused. “They’re always close games – it’s crazy.<\/p>\n
“I thought the scoreline was a fair reflection. With four minutes to go, I thought we deserved to be in front, because we fought so hard to get it back, but we didn’t think clear enough at the end of the game, they deserved their try and they deserved their victory.”<\/p>\n
The result means the Warriors’ three defeats over the past month have each been by two points against teams that will be there or thereabouts when the competition playoffs begin – tabletoppers Penrith Panthers, the Dolphins and Cronulla Sharks.<\/p>\n
“There’s so much good stuff about what we’re doing,” Webster said. “It’s unfortunate that we’re not celebrating in there, but we deserved to be in front, then we deserved to be behind.<\/p>\n
“We’re happy with where we sit, but we know, if we want to go to the next level, we have to learn how to ice these moments. If we do that, we can become a real threat.”<\/p>\n
Here’s what we learnt from the Warriors defeat to the Dolphins.<\/p>\n
Best player<\/p>\n
Second-rower Kurt Capewell has been missing from the Warriors line-up more than a month through Origin duties, but reminded everyone of his class, with an 80-minute display that included a linebreak, a near try and 44 tackles.<\/p>\n
Most of the forwards stepped up to the occasion, with Jacob Laban again impressive to lead all tacklers (59), while showing his aerial prowess to score a try. Skipper Mitch Barnett rumbled for 154 running metres and made 35 tackles.<\/p>\n
“I reckon he’s been one of our best for the last month,” Webster said of Laban. “He’s strung some 80-minute performances together and when he’s tired, he finds a way through that – he finds another gear.<\/p>\n
“As young guys do, when they get the opportunity, they learn on the run. Not everyone takes that opportunity, but Jacob has certainly taken it.”<\/p>\n
Back-up hooker Sam Healey was only on the field 22 minutes, but produced three dummy half runs for 33 metres and scored what seemed like a gamewinning try.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most impressive was second-rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, who entered the game midway through the first half and stayed until the end – the most minutes of his young career – while spending some time in the backs.<\/p>\n
Billed by Webster as a future 80-minute performer, ‘Goggins’ is know for his supreme fitness and performances like this one will earn more game-time for the young man.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava produced his breakout performance for the Warriors.<\/p>\n
Tertius Pickard\/Photosport<\/p>\n
The backs were largely contained throughout, with fullback Taine Tuaupiki running for a team-high 184 metres, but halfback Te Maire Martin was probably the best on show.<\/p>\n
Best try<\/p>\n
Ahead 20-12 midway through the second half, the Dolphins were trying to clear their goal-line, when Cobbo lost the ball in a tackle, gifting the Warriors an attacking scrum 10 metres out.<\/p>\n
A setplay sent half the backs running decoy right, as the ball went left, where Martin and Ieremia-Toeava put wing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad over for his fifth try in two games on the wing.<\/p>\n
Key moment<\/p>\n
Cobbo’s winning try seems too obvious, so let’s put a spotlight on the many big defensive plays from both teams, especially in the first half.<\/p>\n
In the fourth minute, Dolphins fullback Tabuai Hamiso-Fidow denied Capewell, when he wrapped up the big forward over the tryline and forced a knock-on. At the end of the next set, wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak spilled a high kick on his goal-line and Cobbo opened the scoring for the Dolphins.<\/p>\n
Martin and front-rower Tanner Stowers-Smith made incredible trysaving tackles to keep the Warriors in the contest, but perhaps the real momentum turner came just before halftime, with the Warriors leading 12-10.<\/p>\n
Dolphins half Brad Schneider kicked to the goal, where Adam Pompey took the catch for a seven-tackle set. After tapping the ball to start the set, Pompey was stripped by Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima and, from the ensuing set, fast hands put wing Jamayne Isaako over in the corner.<\/p>\n
The Warriors have won their last 17 games when leading at halftime, so conceding the advantage before the break was significant, and even though they rallied late, that Nikorima steal was a backbreaker.<\/p>\n
Tuaupiki and Barnett were also held up over the tryline during the second half, while centre Herbie Farnworth’s despairing openfield, ankle-tap tackle on Martin probably denied another, as the Dolphins showed their defensive steel time and again.<\/p>\n
Injuries etc<\/p>\n
The bad news is that the Warriors lost another player to injury – club centurion Watene-Zelezniak with a tight hamstring – and may also need another centre (and goalkicker), after Pompey was cited for lifting his knees in his running action.<\/p>\n
Pompey has already served a two-week suspension for that same offence this season, so let’s see what the judiciary serves up this time.<\/p>\n
The good news is the Warriors have a bye next week, which will give their walking wounded time to heal and return for their next outing.<\/p>\n
After Watene-Zelezniak departed, Webster moved Ieremia-Toeava to the midfield and Pompey to the wing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak finished his 100th game for the Warriors on the bench with a hamstring twinge.<\/p>\n
Tertius Pickard\/Photosport<\/p>\n
If DWZ and Alofiana Khan-Pereira (quad) cannot return in two weeks, it’s anyone’s guess who will man the wings, especially if Pompey is also unavailable. Reports from Australia suggest the club may sign Tigers back Luke Lauilii to cover the outside positions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, front-rower James Fisher-Harris and second-rower Leka Halasima are expected back, while Healey made his first appearance, after missing two weeks with a broken thumb.<\/p>\n
What the result means<\/p>\n
The Warriors now slide back into a threeway tie with the Dolphins and Sydney Roosters for second the competition table, but retain their advantage through superior points differential (+168).<\/p>\n
Newcastle Knights may yet join that logjam with a win over Wests Tigers on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Next week’s bye will gift the Warriors two points, so they can’t lose any more ground for a while. The Roosters also have a bye next, while the Dolphins and Knights will meet without their Origin stars next Sunday.<\/p>\n
Dolphins<\/p>\n
They have now extended their winning run to eight games, but may lose star playmaker Isaiyah Katoa for a while, after he left the field with a wrist\/forearm injury.<\/p>\n
Most impressively, their eight victims have had a combined record of 48-39, so the streak hasn’t been a soft one.<\/p>\n
They will likely lose a handful of players for their next game against Newcastle, so that will present another stern test of their form and depth.<\/p>\n
Their strong Kiwi contingent, headed by Nikorima and Isaako, will prove key to them maintaining their momentum, especially if Katoa misses significant time.<\/p>\n
What’s next<\/p>\n
Beyond the bye, the Warriors take on the Tigers (away), St George Illawarra Dragons (home), Canterbury Bulldogs (away) and Gold Coast Titans (away).<\/p>\n
None of them have winning records, although Wests may put their heads above water with victory over the Knights this weekend and the Bulldogs have recently shown signs of life, with three consecutive victories.<\/p>\n
With just a two-day turnaround from Origin III, the Warriors likely won’t have Barnett or Capewell on board against the dangerous Tigers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Analysis: Despite three losses from their last four games, NZ Warriors sense they are almost where they need…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":499962,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[111,139,69,213],"class_list":["post-499961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=499961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499961\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/499962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=499961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=499961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}