In a thrilling encounter on Saturday, the Dolphins secured their place in the preliminary finals with a comeback victory against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland.
The Warriors, now at risk of exiting in the first round of the finals, will face the Newcastle Knights next weekend.
Despite having a formidable middle third, featuring standout players like Erin Clark, Mitchell Barnett, and James Fisher-Harris, the Warriors struggle as their bench lacks the same caliber of experience.
Initially, the Warriors seemed poised for a decisive win, dominating the early stages of the match.
However, everything changed when Barnett and Fisher-Harris were substituted off the field.
While Tanner Stowers-Smith and others contribute, the drop in experience becomes noticeable during critical moments.
Jackson Ford's recent ankle injury further compounds the Warriors' challenges, prompting coach Andrew Webster to consider adjustments to his starting lineup.
Such changes could help maintain the intensity and winning mentality throughout the match.
The Dolphins, known for unpredictable gameplay, demonstrated their ability to clinch victory in bursts rather than through sustained performance.
This quality proved essential once again, as they capitalized on key moments to achieve success.