Two teams riding high after wins at Magic Round square off in a Round 12 clash that promises a smorgasbord of free-flowing football in Auckland.
The Warriors dug deep to arrest a four-game losing slide with a memorable win over the premiers as Taine Tuaupiki and Te Maire Martin stood tall in front of a raucous crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
In the absence of Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tohu Harris and Kurt Capewell it was left to some of the Warriors' unheralded players to take the fight to the Panthers and come away with a 22-20 triumph that could prove season-defining.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, continued their rollicking start to 2024 with a hard-fought win over Wests Tigers lifting them to a 7-3 record.
At the corresponding stage last year the Dolphins were 6-4 in their debut season before winning just three of their final 14 games to slide out of contention.
A repeat of that seems most unlikely in 2024 with Wayne Bennett's men showing greater resilience and boasting greater depth in their playing ranks to cope with injuries and the loss of star fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Origin duty.
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Team News
Warriors: More changes for the home side with Taine Tuaupiki ruled out due to the imminent birth of his first child which sees Dallin Watene-Zelezniak shift to fullback and Edward Kosi called up from the reserves to start at wing. Freddy Lussick has also been reverted to the bench ahead of kick off with Paul Roache named to start at hooker after being promoted from 18th man. The news comes after Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was ruled out earlier on Saturday due to illness after he had been switched to centre to replace Rocco Berry, who was a late withdrawal after initially being named to return from a hand injury. Moala Graham-Taufa will make his club debut in the centres. His only other NRL appearance was for Souths in 2021 when he took the field as 18th man. Marata Niukore starts at prop in his return from a foot injury after the club announced on Thursday that Addin Fonua-Blake has been stood down for Round 12 following a breach of club standards.
Dolphins: A late shuffle sees Mark Nicholls revert to the bench, Felise Kaufusi named to start at prop and Connelly Lemuelu join the run-on side at second row. Lock Max Plath's return from concussion protocols pushes Kenny Bromwich to the bench.
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Stat Attack
- The Warriors have won only one of their past four games at Go Media Stadium.
- Only two of the Dolphins’ 16 wins have been achieved outside Queensland.
- Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored seven tries in his past five games.
- The Warriors have won three of their past five games against top-eight opposition.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .