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New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins NRL Round 8 Tips & Prediction - Warriors too good for fatigued Phins

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 23 Apr 2026 02:03

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Andrew Hendrie 23 Apr 2026

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New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins predictions for Saturday's NRL R8 game
Warriors continue to pile on points - tipped to cover with another big win
Dolphins potentially fatigued & drained from big effort vs Panthers in Darwin last week
The game is scheduled for kick off at 6.00pm AEST on Saturday April 25

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Warriors host Dolphins on Saturday (Photo by Getty Images)

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins NRL Round 8 Tips & Prediction

The Warriors take an NRL game to Wellington for the first time since 2023 on ANZAC Day and are set for another big win over a Dolphins side who were punished in the heat and humidity of Darwin last week against the Panthers.

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins NRL Round 8 Tips & Prediction
Warriors vs Dolphins Stats & Trends
Warriors vs Dolphins Head To Head
New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis
Dolphins Form Analysis
New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Team News

Ahhhh, the Penrith Hangover. It's a real thing. And when you throw in golden point and the sweltering conditions in Darwin - along with a flight to Wellington a week later - that's a recipe for disaster for the Phins heading into this clash.

Indeed, five of the six teams that have faced Penrith so far in 2026 have lost the following week. Often badly. Case in point the Bulldogs last week - they threw everything they had at the Panthers in a memorable performance, only to turn up flatter than a pancake against the Eels. The Dolphins produced a miraculous second-half comeback from 18-0 down at half-time, only to fall 23-22 in golden point to a Nathan Cleary field goal.

No such concerns for the Warriors. They cruised past the Titans 28-20 at home last week (although Andrew Webster will want his side to put the foot down after leading 22-0) and now they make the short trip to Wellington for what will be an emotional ANZAC Day showdown.

I think the Wahs are on for this one. Four of their five wins have seen them score 38+ points this season, while they really should have scored more than their 28 points against the Titans before taking their foot off the pedal late last week. Take the Warriors to cover a -5.5 line and to score Over 28.5 team points.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored the first two tries of last week's game and can continue his ridiculous NRL tryscoring record by crossing for the first, second or third try, while Herbie Farnworth has a great record against the Warriors and is arguably the best centre in the game - decent value for a meat pie here.

Warriors vs Dolphins Stats & Trends

Warriors have won five of their last seven games
Warriors have scored 38+ points in four of those wins & 28 in the other
Warriors have covered a -5.5 line in all five of their wins this season
Five of the six teams to face faced the Panthers in 2026 have lost the following week
Dolphins have failed to cover a +5.5 line in three of their four losses this season
Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored an early double last week & has 55 tries in 56 NRL games
Herbie Farnworth has scored seven tries in his last five games vs Warriors & has scored 1+ try in his last six games vs top four sides. He's also scored in his last two games this season

Warriors vs Dolphins Head To Head

These two teams have split the last four meetings at two wins apiece, with all four games decided by four points or less.

Year	Winner	Result	Venue
2025	Dolphins	20–18	Go Media
2025	Warriors	16–12	Suncorp
2024	Dolphins	34–32	Suncorp
2024	Warriors	24–20	Go Media
2023	Dolphins	34–10	Suncorp

New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis

It's been an excellent start to the season for the Warriors, with the Kiwi club sitting pretty in second spot on the ladder.

The Wahs have won five of their last seven games and they're piling on the points in those victories with crushing triumphs over Roosters, Raiders, Knights and Storm.

Last week's 28-20 victory over the Titans wasn't as convincing, but the Warriors did race out to a 22-0 half-time lead before easing off in the second stanza.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored the opening two tries of the match against his former club, while Tanah Boyd continued his outstanding start to the season at halfback in the absence of Luke Metcalfe.

Dolphins Form Analysis

It's been a topsy-turvy and inconsistent start to the season for the Dolphins, who many were predicting to find some stability and cement themselves as a top eight team.

Of course there's still time - the Phins showcased what they're capable of with a thumping 38-10 win over the Sharks and pushing the Panthers to golden point last week.

However, they've also leaked 40 and 50+ points to the likes of Souths and Manly this season. That defence needs to tighten up if they are to be a true premiership force.

Led by another barnstorming performance by Herbie Farnworth in the centres, the Phins came within a whisker of producing a miracle upset against Penrith in Darwin last week, only to fall 23-23 in golden point following the iceman Nathan Cleary's field goal.

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Team News

Taine Tuaupiki returns to fullback for the Warriors in place of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who is out with a neck injury.

Brad Schneider is the new five-eighth in the absence of the suspended Kodi Nikorima, with the dangerous Trai Fuller joining the bench.

New Zealand Warriors	Position	Dolphins
Taine Tuaupiki	1	Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	2	Jamayne Isaako
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	3	Jake Averillo
Ali Leiataua	4	Herbie Farnworth
Alofiana Khan-Pereira	5	Selwyn Cobbo
Chanel Harris-Tavita	6	Bradley Schneider
Tanah Boyd	7	Isaiya Katoa
James Fisher-Harris	8	Tom Gilbert
Wayde Egan	9	Max Plath
Jackson Ford	10	Francis Molo
Leka Halasima	11	Connelly Lemuelu
Kurt Capewell	12	Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Erin Clark	13	Morgan Knowles
Sam Healey	14	Ray Stone
Mitchell Barnett	15	Thomas Flegler
Demitric Vaimauga	16	Felise Kaufusi
Jacob Laban	17	Trai Fuller
Marata Niukore	18	Lewis Symonds
Luke Hanson	20/19	Tevita Naufahu

Verdict

New Zealand Warriors v Dolphins

The Warriors are tipped for another dominant win, with the Phins drained from their effort against Penrith in Darwin last week. Herbie & AKP backed for tries.

Warriors -5.5

Line

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Warriors Over 28.5

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