Warriors silenced by Dolphins’ 20-minute finals stunner in Auckland
The Dolphins are through to their first preliminary final after strike centre Herbie Farnworth ignited a stunning 26-16 comeback win over the Warriors in Auckland.
The Warriors appeared on track for victory when 16-8 ahead with 20 minutes remaining but the Dolphins have been comeback specialists in 2026 and the electric Farnworth danced and weaved his way through to score.
A 90m movement, started and finished by Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow via a scintillating interchange of passing with Farnworth, put the Dolphins ahead 20-16.
Then Dolphins centre Jack Bostock iced the win with a ball steal to score and secure the Dolphins a home preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium in a fortnight.
A sold-out crowd of 26,131 at Mt Smart Stadium was pulsating and heaving throughout another classic battle between two sides that are fast forging a fierce rivalry.
They were silenced in the final 20 minutes by a Dolphins side that refused to be beaten. The Warriors will now host Newcastle in a semi-final next week.
Warriors pair Adam Pompey and Kurt Capewell, along with Dolphins winger Selwyn Cobbo, were all sent to the sin-bin in the first half.
Dolphins prop Thomas Flegler was concussed and ruled out of the match in the 10th minute after being steamrolled by opposite front-rower Mitch Barnett.
Pompey and Dolphins trio Isaiya Katoa, Connelly Lemuelu and Kodi Nikorima were all put on report as the clash boiled.
The match exploded into a melee in the 34th minute after Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa flipped Warriors prop Jackson Ford accidentally in a dangerous tackle.
Capewell and Cobbo were both sin-binned for rushing in to the fracas and Katoa was put on report.
The Warriors suffered a major blow with strike centre Leka Halasima ruled out in the warmup after clutching at his right hamstring, with Pompey slotting into the starting side..
Every penalty or ruck infringement in the Warriors’ favour was met with an almighty roar by the crowd.
The Warriors faithful were delirious when fullback Taine Tuaupiki danced past four Dolphins to score under the sticks.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on 7news.com.au — the content belongs to 7NEWS Australia.
