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Warriors v Dolphins: Ale in for Walker; Gilbert, Hammer to miss

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pan66.com
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The Dolphins will look to continue their fairytale debut season when they travel across the ditch to take on a Warriors side smarting from a loss to the Broncos in Napier.

Much of the focus was on Adam Pompey's brain fade at the end of the match that denied his team a late shot at victory, but the damage had been done much earlier for the Warriors as they let the undermanned Broncos get out to a 26-10 lead before finally clicking into gear.

The Warriors retain a spot in the top eight on for and against but losses in four of their past five games have stalled their momentum and threatened to undo the good work done in the opening six weeks.

The Dolphins overcame the absence of Felise Kaufusi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Gilbert to knock off the Dragons and now sit sixth on the ladder with a 7-5 record - a remarkable achievement in their first season in the big time.

With matches against the Warriors, Sea Eagles and Eels to come before a blockbuster rematch with the Broncos in Round 18, Wayne Bennett's men are ideally placed to emulate the deeds of Melbourne in 1998 and St George Illawarra in 1999 by playing finals in their inaugural season. 

Team News

Warriors: No further changes on game day after Tom Ale came in on Friday for Dylan Walker, who has succumbed to a toe injury he picked up in training last week. Wayde Egan (calf) will start at hooker after missing Round 13 with a calf injury. He is a straight swap for Freddy Lussick who failed a HIA last week and won’t play. Mitch Barnett (neck) is also set to start on Andrew Webster's bench after missing over two months with injury. 

Dolphins: A late change on game day with hooker Jeremy Marshall-King dropping out with a shoulder injury. Ray Stone moves to hooker and Jarrod Wallace comes into the starting side at lock. Debutant Max Plath is the new face on the bench. Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (rested) and Tom Gilbert (shoulder) are out. Kodi Nikorima will start the game at fullback in Hammer's absence.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
    Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Kodi Nikorima
  • Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
    Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
    Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan Aitken
  • Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
    Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Brenko Lee
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
    Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi Niu
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
    Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Anthony Milford
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
    Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
    Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
    Hooker for Dolphins is number 13 Ray Stone
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
    Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Herman Ese'ese
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kenneath Bromwich
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
  • Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
    Lock for Dolphins is number 14 Jarrod Wallace

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Josh Curran
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark Nicholls
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Mitchell Barnett
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Mason Teague
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Bayley Sironen
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Valynce Te Whare
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Tom Ale
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 19 Max Plath

Reserves

  • Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki
    Replacement for Dolphins is number 21 Kurt Donoghoe

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Darian Furner
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Warriors have won three from five in New Zealand this season.
  • The Dolphins play outside Australia for the first time.
  • The Warriors have achieved their best defensive performance after 13 rounds since 2018.
  • Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 30 of his team’s 42 points in their past two games.
  • Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored five tries in his past five games.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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