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New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Tips & Preview - Dolphins to make a splash in Auckland?

Ryan Tucker

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Last updated: 02 Jun 2023

Ryan Tucker 02 Jun 2023

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New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins predictions for Saturday’s NRL game (15:00 AEST)
The Warriors have lost 3 in a row in New Zealand
Can the Warriors turn their recent home form around?

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Dolphins (Getty Images)

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Predictions

Two very evenly matched teams face off to start Super Saturday. Our model is predicting both teams to score 21 points with the edge going to the home team.

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Predictions
Head to Head
New Zealand Warriors Form
New Zealand Warriors Team News
New Zealand Warriors Team List
Dolphins Form
Dolphins Team News
Dolphins Team List

My prediction is that the line of over a converted try is due to the Origin stars being out for the Dolphins. In my opinion though there is still enough strike power in the Queensland side to put some points past an out of form Warriors defence.

The Dolphins have covered in 4 out of their 5 away games in 2023. They have also won 3 of those games straight up.
Over half of the Dolphins games and 10 of 13 Warriors games in 2023 have finished with margins of 12 points or less.
The Warriors have lost 6 of their last 9 games as favourites in New Zealand.
Jamayne Isaako has scored 12 tries across 12 games this season and the Warriors allow the majority of their tries down the edges.

Head to Head

This is the first time the Warriors and Dolphins have played each other.

New Zealand Warriors Form

The Warriors had a strong start to 2023 winning four of their first five games. Since then it has been tough going with only two wins from seven games.

Injuries have played a role but the biggest difference is in their defence. Over the first five games the Warriors averaged only 17.6 points conceded per game, since then the average jumps up to 21.1 points per game.

This will be the second game of a three game stretch between two byes for New Zealand who often perform well during the Origin period.

New Zealand Warriors Team News

Wayde Egan makes a timely return after back-up hooker Freddy Lussick suffered a head knock in round 13 ruling him out for 11 days.

Mitch Barnett and Dylan Walker will both return from injury pushing Tom Ale and Demitric Sifakula out of the team.

New Zealand Warriors Team List

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

3. Rocco Berry

4. Adam Pompey

5. Marcelo Montoya

6. Luke Metcalf

7. Shaun Johnson

8. Addin Fonua-Blake

9. Wayde Egan

10. Bunty Afoa

11. Jackson Ford

12. Marata Niukore

13. Tohu Harris

Interchange

14. Dylan Walker

15. Josh Curran

16. Mitchell Barnett

17. Bayley Sironen

Reserves

18. Tom Ale

20. Taine Tuaupiki

21. Demitric Sifakula

22. Ronald Volkman

23. Ali Leiataua

Dolphins Form

The Dolphins have alternated between winning and losing since round 5. Wayne Bennett will be looking to motivate his team to string two wins together as they visit Auckland for the first time.

The Dolphins have allowed only 12 points across their last three halves of football in what is a positive sign for a team that was low on confidence following a few high scoring games earlier in the season.

Dolphins Team News

Kodi Nikorima retains the fullback role with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow not named to back up from Origin.

Tom Gilbert likewise will sit out the weekend's game after injuring his shoulder in Origin 1, Valynce Te Whare is named on the bench.

Dolphins Team List

1. Kodi Nikorima

2. Jamayne Isaako

3. Euan Aitken

4. Brenko Lee

5. Tesi Niu

6. Anthony Milford

7. Isaiya Katoa

8. Jesse Bromwich

9. Jeremy Marshall-King

10. Herman Ese'ese

11. Kenny Bromwich

12. Connelly Lemuelu

13. Ray Stone

Interchange

14. Jarrod Wallace

15. Mark Nicholls

16. Mason Teague

17. Valynce Te Whare

Reserves

18. Harrison Graham

19. Max Plath

20. Poasa Faamausili

21. Kurt Donoghoe

22. Oliver Gildart

Verdict

New Zealand Warriors v Dolphins

This will be a fantastic game to watch with some big men going up against each other. Both teams have been struggling a little in defence recently which bodes well for try scoring opportunities.

I don’t think the Dolphins will be drastically worse without their Origin stars and the line is offering great value. Another draw is on the cards here with this being one of the closest predicted finishes by my model, of any game this season.

Either Team by 1-12

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