Nrl Today: Dolphins beat Warriors 26–16 to reach a preliminary final

The nrl today finals picture is led by two 26–16 results: the Dolphins defeated the Warriors in Auckland to move within one win of a grand final, while Cronulla beat North Queensland at Allianz Stadium to end the Cowboys’ season. The Dolphins have earned a week off and will host a preliminary final in Brisbane, according to The Dolphins are one win from a grand final.

Dolphins beat Warriors 26–16 to reach a preliminary final

The Dolphins overcame the Warriors at Go Media Stadium on Saturday evening despite spending long periods without the ball. Coach Kristian Woolf said his side faced a 60–40 possession disadvantage and a 9–4 penalty count, describing the victory as brave in The Dolphins are one win from a grand final.

Herbie Farnworth was central to the Dolphins’ performance, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow also made a decisive contribution. Nine’s player ratings described Tabuai-Fidow as the most dangerous player on the field after he scored one try and created two others in Player ratings: Warriors star ‘largely invisible’ as major change looms.

The match became tense before half-time. Selwyn Cobbo and Kurt Capewell were sent to the sin bin after a melee, while Adam Pompey was fined for a shoulder charge on Ray Stone. Dolphins captain Isaiya Katoa was not charged over a tackle involving Jackson Ford, and Max Plath was also not cited after being placed on report for a suspected hip-drop tackle. Cobbo and Capewell were each fined $750, according to The Dolphins are one win from a grand final.

Tom Flegler failed his head injury assessment during the match, but the available report says he was in good spirits the following day and was expected to be available because of the long turnaround. The report does not establish the Dolphins’ preliminary-final opponent.

Sharks defeat Cowboys as finals venue dispute grows

Cronulla defeated North Queensland 26–16 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, ending the Cowboys’ season. Braydon Trindall played despite being restricted by a shoulder injury, while the match report said his pass to Will Kennedy produced his 31st try assist of the season in Fans stay home but Sharks turn up to end Cowboys’ season.

The match drew an official crowd of 17,429. Cronulla had earned the right to a home final, but the NRL moved the fixture from Ocean Protect Stadium, commonly called Shark Park, to Allianz Stadium. The Sharks’ regular ground has a capacity of about 15,000, meaning the crowd was only around 2,500 larger than that figure, according to Sharks boss says it’s time to end ‘embarrassing’ stadium debate.

Nicho Hynes called the number of empty seats upsetting, disappointing and embarrassing, while saying the criticism was not directed at Sharks fans. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon said the club had wanted clearer communication about the venue decision, while also acknowledging that the team was happy to play in a larger stadium, as reported by Hynes blasts ‘embarrassing’ stadium saga as empty seats expose sorry sight.

The NRL has since announced that next week’s Warriors–Knights semi-final will be played at Auckland’s Eden Park. Cronulla chief executive Dino Mezzatesta is calling for a uniform finals-venue policy rather than continued case-by-case decisions, but no change to the policy is established in the available reporting.