Live Blog: Dolphins' strong second half seals historic win

Media conferences

Full-time: The Sharks get the job done 26-16 and send the Cowboys packing.

79 min: It's entertainment plus from the Cowboys in the final 10 minutes, but the Sharks are being desperate enough in defence to grimly hold on. Braydon Trindall makes a big tackle at the end of the latest Cowboys attacking raid to force the ball loose and seal the game. He goes straight into backplay clutching his shoulder once again.

75 min: The Cowboys look to have found a new gear and are rolling their way up the field and forcing plenty of misses from the Sharks, but it could too little, too late.

72 min: They're not done yet, the Cowboys. Back-to-back sets do it again for the Cowboys, who shift their left to Jaxon Purdue, who has just enough space to beat his man and cut back inside Will Kennedy for score his 10th try of the season. Scott Drinkwater can't convert from out wide. Sharks lead 26-16 

69 min: The Cowboys are looking dangerous as they throw caution to the wind trying their best the get back in the game, but their last passes just aren't sticking.

66 min: Nicho Hynes steps up and puts it down under the black dot in a dagger for Cowboys fans. Another Cowboys errors once again invites the Sharks to visit the try line. Hynes notices the fatigue brewing as he floats to the left and the middle forwards expect it to go that way, so Hynes steps off his left and strolls through, raising his hand to the crowd on his 10m run to the line. Hynes can't miss this one and adds the two. Sharks 26-12

63 min: The Sharks jump ahead again and this time it's Will Kennedy who slides over the line after a shift to the left, just breaking the ankle tap of Tom Chester rushing across in defence. While his general play kicking is on target, Nicho Hynes isn't having the best night with his goalkicking, and this one strikes the upright. Sharks 20-12 

60 min: The Cowboys can't get any momentum due to handling errors. The Sharks are forcing them into it contesting every pinpoint kick from Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes.

57 min: The Cowboys build pressure on the Sharks and they've scored! Another rare foray into the opposition half pays dividends, on the back of a high tackle on Tom Chester, a penalty for a tackle in the air and another repeat set. This time Tom Dearden floats to the left where the Sharks are stripped for numbers and cuts out two players to find Zac Laybutt, who improves the position in scoring the try. Scott Drinkwater adds the two points. Sharks lead 16-12 

50 min: Try Sharks! The Cowboys looked to be gaining some confidence and shift it left just inside the Sharks half, but a Scott Drinkwater cutout pass is tipped up by Sione Katoa, who completes the intercept and just has the legs to score the try. Nicho Hynes misses the attempt from five metres in from touch. Sharks 16-6

48 min: HUGE contact between Ronaldo Mulitalo, who rushes out of the line and puts a shot on Braidon Burns. Mulitalo is penalised for a high tackle after his second effort on the ground.

45 min: A great play from Braydon Trindall, who comes up with the short dropout to himself along the ground, but after taking possession, he loses control under the attention of the defence. It came after the Sharks allowed a bomb to bounce 15 metres out, before being taken dead by the Sharks. The Cowboys are disjointed in their opportunity and can't convert.

42 min: Jaxon Purdue pounces on a loose pass from Nicho Hynes and runs away toward the try line, but it comes back after a Cowboys hand knocked it down. The Sharks start their set on half way, but Jake Clifford staves off this attacking raid, intercepting a pass from Sharks centre Riley Jones.

Half-time: It's another epic finals match between the Sharks and Cowboys and the blue-and-black lead it 12-6. The Sharks have absolutely dominated possession and field position throughout the half, managing two tries and having a couple disallowed. The Cowboys' issues had been eight errors, inviting the Sharks to camp on their line, but they're doing enough defensively to keep themselves in the game, even coming close to holding the lead midway through the half. 

38 min: The Cowboys use the set off the penalty to get into the attacking zone and after attempting to run the ball down the left, Jaxon Purdue puts it on the toe to get the ball in goal and big Thomas Hazelton gets there to clean it up. The Cowboys can't make the most of the repeat set as Jeremiah Nanai makes the error.

36 min: It looks to be another try for the Sharks. At the end of a fantastic set after points in which Siosifa Talakai made a powerful run through the middle, Nicho Hynes puts it on a dime for Ronaldo Mulitalo, who grabs a cross-field bomb above his head and offloads to KL Iro to score in the corner. But the Bunker has the overhead angle to show Iro failed to get both feet behind Hynes before chasing and is deemed to be offside.

34 min: The Sharks extend their lead and it's 100 tries for Sione Katoa. After Scott Drinkwater makes another error going high to catch a bomb, the Sharks shift right off the scrum and Will Kennedy skips the attempted tackle of Zac Laybutt before offloading to Katoa, who goes over untouched. Nicho Hynes can't convert from the sideline. Sharks 12-6

Injury update: Coen Hess won't return at being deemed to have shown Category 1 concussion symptoms. Braydon Trindall is also struggling with a right shoulder injury.

31 min: The Cowboys go close to a second try after a grubber kick from Tom Dearden evades Will Kennedy after a challenging bounce, but it also just escapes Tom Chester, who can't control the ball for a grounding.

Injury update: Coen Hess is heading off for a HIA after catching the hip of Sione Katoa, who was charging on a kick return.

28 min: The Cowboys get their first look inside the Sharks 20m zone and they've scored! Having earlier made a break down the right through Tom Chester, who is hit high by the cover defence, the Cowboys make the most of their next set when Scott Drinkwater plays off the back of a quick play-the-ball with a rapid cutout pass from dummy half out to the wing of Braidon Burns for the try. Drinkwater curls the conversion in from the sideline. Sharks lead 8-6

24 min: More pressure on the Cowboys after Jake Clifford hits pulls a long kick downfield and hits the fence on the full. Braydon Trindall goes awfully close in the following set, but the Cowboys survive. The Sharks have had 75% of possession.

20 min: Siosifa Talakai gets up celebrating after believing he's grounded the ball on the line. The referee originally ruled he didn't have enough control, but the Bunker finds he had at least a finger on the ball the whole way down as reached over his head to score. Nicho Hynes converts from 15 metres in from touch. Sharks 8-0

Injury update: Sione Katoa has passed his HIA and will return to the field.

18 min: The Sharks look like they've finally taken advantage of their early possession and territory domination with a try to Addin Fonua-Blake. There's not much space in front of him when Hynes turns the big man underneath, and he gets over the line after first placing it on Reed Mahoney's leg. The Bunker finds Fonua-Blake made a second movement after Mahoney's original contact inside the field of play, in which the ball carrying arm hit the ground, so it's a penalty against the Sharks for a double movement.

13 min: Outstanding defence from the Cowboys. The Sharks get into the attacking zone and enjoy three consecutive sets on the try line thanks to a set restart for offside and penalty for a tackle without ball on Trindall, who was chasing his own grubber. On last tackle, the Sharks spread left, but can't find a way through and KL Iro makes the error to hand it over.

Injury update: Sharks winger Sione Katoa goes for a HIA after the intervention of the independent doctor. He was left on the ground after a tackle on Jaxon Purdue. Siosifa Talakai is on the field at centre, with Riley Jones out to the wing.

8 min: Both teams are settling into their work, completing their sets and keeping composed. That is until Reed Mahoney gets up in the face of Nicho Hynes after the Sharks halfback's kick downfield and there's a bit of tension between them in backplay.

4 min: The Sharks get the first attacking set after Scott Drinkwater spills fails to defuse a tricky bomb near his own goal line. Jesse Colquhoun comes centimetres from slamming the ball on the line on a charging run, but a penalty is blown a few tackles later, so the Sharks take the two. Nicho Hynes slots the penalty goal. Sharks 2-0

Kickoff: It's on at Allianz Stadium in the battle for survival, with the Sharks receiving first use of the ball.

Late Mail

Sharks: A blow for the Sharks on Friday with bench utility Hohepa Puru dropping out due to illness. His place is taken by his brother Niwhai. No further changes were made 90 minutes from kickoff. Playmaker Braydon Trindall will have his shoulder heavily strapped but he is ready to tackle the Cowboys after missing the last two games. Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, KL Iro and Teig Wilton are all back on deck after a rest in Round 27. Prop Tom Hazelton has served a one-game ban for dangerous contact and returns on the bench. The Sharks have won 14 of their last 17 games against the Cowboys. 

Cowboys: John Bateman starts in the second row in a game day switch, with Jeremiah Nanai back to the bench. Sam McIntyre was added to the interchange on Friday in place of Thomas Mikaele. A win at the judiciary for the Cowboys with co-captain Reuben Cotter getting a downgrade on a careless high tackle charge and copping a fine rather than a ban. Prop Griffin Neame (toe), back-rower Jeremiah Nanai (knee) and winger Zac Laybutt (concussion) all return so Coen Hess and John Bateman slide to the bench. Winger Braidon Burns will make his 100th NRL appearance. 

Warriors v Dolphins at Go Media Stadium

Media conferences

Full-time: The Dolphins hold on and take home a stunning 10-point victory across the ditch.

78 min: Jack Bostock thinks he has a double to seal the result after claiming to get the ball to ground after winning an aerial contest. Replays show he placed the ball on the foot of Taine Tuaupiki and lost control.

77 min: The Dolphins may well be going to a preliminary final! Alofiana Khan-Pereira fails to come up with a catch as he goes up uncontested to grab a cross-field kick and it bounces into the arms of Chanel Harris-Tavita, but Jack Bostock steals it from his grasp and falls over the line for the try. After a significant delay, the try is confirmed. Jamayne Isaako makes no mistake. Dolphins 26-16

73 min: The latest attacking raid has the Dolphins going awfully, with Herbie Farnworth stopped just short as the visitors run the ball on last tackle. The Warriors are out on their feet and can't get into good field position to mount a comeback. 

71 min: The Dolphins receive a penalty in goalkicking range for offside after an aerial contest between Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Taine Tuaupiki ends in the hands of Erin Clark. It's sent upstairs via a captain's challenge and the replay shows the ball bounced back of the Hammer and the Warriors gain much needed possession.

69 min: The crowd is silenced in Auckland as the Dolphins take the lead. He's been quiet in the past few weeks, but it's Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who steps up when his team needs him most. The Hammer picked the ball up on kick return and stepped straight past chaser Jacob Laban, took it 60m towards the try line before passing to Herbie Farnworth and he took it another 20m before looping it over the top back to the Hammer to score the try he well and truly earned. Jamayne Isaako makes the conversion. Dolphins 20-16

65 min: Amazing play from both sides in a wild passage of play. The Dolphins break down field and throw the ball around on the Warriors line. After going left and right, failing to find a way through, a short chip by Isaiya Katoa is taken by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, but Taine Tuaupiki shuts him down with a one-on-one try saver.

62 min: There's no stopping Herbie Farnworth! The Dolphins are right back in it after a shift to left, ends up with the ball contacting the hand of Charnze Nicol-Klokstad rushing up in defence, before Farnworth picks up the ball, changes the direction of the attack back infield and in a way only Herbie can do, weaves his way through the Wahs defenders and dives over the line. Jamayne Isaako converts. Warriors lead 16-14

60 min: The tide has turned towards the Dolphins on the back of the excellent kicking game of Isaiya Katoa, one of them going centimetres from a 40/20 but for an unlucky bounce.

Injury update: Despite high hopes it would not be a game ending injury, Jackson Ford has failed to overcome his ankle knock and won't return.

55 min: After an enormous set after points, Jacob Laban gets a chance to charge at the line, but four Dolphins are there to hold him up. The visitors are hanging on desperately as the discipline issues that emerged in the first half rear up once again.

53 min: Rinse and repeat for the Warriors. Taine Tuaupiki slots his FIFTH penalty goal from 15m out and 16m in from touch after an escort penalty against the Dolphins. Warriors 16-8

50 min: The Warriors extend their lead to six, taking another penalty goal. The offence is against Max Plath, who is ruled to have made dangerous contact on the ankle of Jackson Ford. The Dolphins forward is placed on report and Ford goes up the tunnel for treatment. Taine Tuaupiki adds two points from just to the right of the posts. Warriors 14-8

49 min: Ali Leiataua goes down clutching at his right ankle after an awkward tackle involving Connelly Lemuelu. It's a penalty for a suspected hip drop, but both players remain on the field.

48 min: Herbie Farnworth stuns with a run down the left as he was spun around then went to his knees before continuing his run a further 20m to get his side out of an uncomfortable position at their own end.

46 min: Jamayne Isaako grounds the ball in-goal when the ball spills from an aerial contest between Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Jack Bostock, but the Bunker backs up the on-field referee's belief the ball went forward off the hands of the Dolphins centre.

44 min: The crowd is up after Alofiana Khan-Pereira dives for the corner and we go upstairs. The lead-up play had Jackson Ford leaping over Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to catch a Chanel Harris-Tavita bomb, before he offloads and the ball is swung wide. On replay, the Bunker finds Ford's ball carrying arm touched the ground and he was tackled before he offloaded, but the Hammer had previously contacted the ball in the contest, so the Warriors received a new set. They fail to take advantage, with a forward pass called out of dummy half in the following set.

Half-time: A tense first half comes to an end with the Warriors taking a four-point lead into the sheds. Both teams had early penalty goals to get on the board before the Dolphins started struggling with their discipline, giving the Warriors plenty of attacking chances, and the ultimately allowed the home side out to an eight-point lead. The 'Phins worked their way back into the game, scoring a try, before the game really started blowing up. Adam Pompey, who was a late in after Leka Halasima was withdrawn with a pre-game hamstring injury, put a shoulder charge on Ray Stone to find himself in the sin bin, then another coming together a few minutes later had Selwyn Cobbo and Kurt Capewell sitting down. The Warriors turned up the wick defensively with a man short and finished the half the stronger, camped on the visitors' line, coming way with a late penalty goal.

40 min: The Warriors finish the half adding another penalty goal to the tally. Wayde Egan threw the dummy and ran, popping his head through before being taken down around the legs. But outside him, Kurt Donoghoe tackled Jackson Ford on a support run, with a penalty the result. Taine Tuaupiki converts from 10m in line with the right upright. He owns all the Warriors points in the first half. Warriors 12-8

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.