Live Blog: Dolphins cut margin to 8-10 with Cobbo try

37 min: The Dolphins are getting scrappy as they try to take advantage of the final moments of their one-man advantage, but it breaks down when Jeremy Marshall-King is pinged for a forward pass out of dummy half to a charging Francis Molo.

Injury update: James Fisher-Harris is back on the field after passing his HIA.

34 min: Tensions are high here at Go Media Stadium after a low tackle from Isaiya Katoa sends Jackson Ford, who was leaping into the tackle, into a dangerous position. While it's a penalty for the Warriors and Katoa is placed on report, both Dolphins winger Selwyn Cobbo and Warriors second rower Kurt Capewell are sent to the sin bin for escalating a melee.

32 min: The Dolphins go for the try after an escort by Alofiana Khan-Pereira on Max Plath, who was chasing the Isaiya Katoa kick. They get another repeat set after a Warriors strip, but the home crowd steels their defence and they survive the raid.

28 min: Adam Pompey is off to the sin bin after a shoulder charge connects with the head of Ray Stone as he ran it back off the kick-off.

28 min: The Dolphins catch the Warriors napping after the stoppage to open the scoring. Selwyn Cobbo is unchallenged down his wing after a shift left immediately from the restart and a Herbie Farnworth tip-on to make it happen. Jamayne Isaako makes it look easy from the sideline. Warriors lead 10-8

Injury update: James Fisher-Harris leaves the field for HIA, bringing Jackson Ford back on to the park.

24 min: The Dolphins get their first real opportunity in the Warriors 20m zone and look to have stripped the home side for numbers on a few occasions. It almost opens the door for Isaiya Katoa, who lays on an offload to Kurt Donoghoe a metre out from the line, but James Fisher-Harris makes a one-on-one tackle to save the day.

21 min: The Warriors have added another two points to the tally with a penalty goal to Taine Tuaupiki. This one comes for a tackle on suspicion on Mitch Barnett committed by Morgan Knowles after a challenge for the Warriors against a lost ball on the play. The Dolphins are putting themselves under pressure with ill-discipline and inviting the Warriors into their end, the latest points position coming from another set restart. Warriors 10-2

17 min: Taine Tuaupiki is over to get Go Media Stadium pumping! Consecutive set restarts for slow rucks proves too much for the Dolphins to handle. Tuaupiki slides right and sees very little opportunity on the outside, so steps off his right, slips tackles of Kodi Nikorima and Max Plath and evades Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, before taking it under the posts to make his conversion easy. Warriors 8-2

12 min: The Dolphins level the scores with a penalty goal of their own. The infringement is against Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who went high to catch a bomb and kicked his leg out into Jack Bostock. The penalty originally went to the Warriors for AKP being tackled in the air before being reversed. Jamayne Isaako makes no mistake from 20m out and 20m in from touch. Scores level 2-2

10 min: The players come together after Tom Flegler is flattened attempting a tackle on a thundering Mitch Barnett in the first hit-up of the set after points. Flegler went low and collected the hip of Barnett. Flegler has been ruled out for the game after showing Category 1 concussion symptoms.

8 min: The Warriors take an early lead with a penalty goal to Taine Tuaupiki. The penalty comes after Jack Bostock briefly held back Kurt Capewell as Te Maire Martin grubbered for the in-goal. The Wahs got the chance to go on attack after a heavy hit from James Fisher-Harris forced the ball loose from Kulikefu Finefeuiaki on half way. Warriors 2-0

4 min: After the two teams feel each other out in the opening sets, the Dolphins get the first chance to go deep into Warriors territory. The last tackle kick from Isaiya Katoa towards Jack Bostock is marked strongly by Taine Tuaupiki to shut down the threat.

Kickoff: A fantastic evening for finals is underway in Auckland, with the Dolphins getting first use of the ball. 

Injury update: Drama for the Warriors with Leka Halasima ruled out in the warm-up after he appeared to be clutching at his right hamstring. Adam Pompey comes into the starting line-up, with Jett Cleary elevated into the 19.

Team news

Warriors: A huge in for the Wahs with Jackson Ford named for his first game since suffering a pectoral injury against the Cowboys in Round 16. Ford is listed on the bench but could be called into the starting side closer to game day. Centre Leka Halasima is back from an ankle injury while rested duo Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell also return. Sam Healey, Adam Pompey and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava revert to the six-man interchange. The Warriors have won eight from 10 at Go Media Stadium this season. Jett Cleary was omitted as the reserve in the 90-minute squad update, leaving a settled line-up for the home side.

Dolphins: Tevita Naufahu joins the game day 19 at the expense of veteran Felise Kaufusi in the only change to the Dolphins' initial 19-man squad. Winger Selwyn Cobbo (ankle), back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (knee) and five-eighth Kodi Nikorima (hamstring) are all back on deck after being given last week off to overcome niggling injuries.

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