Dolphins v Warriors NRL tips, odds & teams | Round 23 preview

Dolphins v Warriors betting picks

Dolphins v Warriors match preview

Round 23 of the NRL continues this Sunday afternoon with a battle for a spot in the finals between the Dolphins and the New Zealand Warriors at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Warriors players and fans received news this week that star halfback Shaun Johnson will draw the curtains on his glittering career at season’s end. Five points separate the Warriors in 13th and the Dragons in eighth, with New Zealand needing to win each of their last four games to give themselves the best chance of returning to finals.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have slid from fourth on the NRL ladder in round 15 to sit ninth this week. With matches against the Bulldogs and Storm still to come, this clash could prove pivotal to the Queensland club’s chances of playing finals in just its second season.

Coach Andrew Webster has opted to recall Edward Kosi to the wing for the Warriors. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck shifts to the centres and Moala Graham Taufa drops back to the reserves in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Recent Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Bennett has named Kodi Nikorima (illness) to return at five-eighth for the Dolphins, with Sean O’Sullivan dropping back to the bench. Tevita Pangai Junior (hamstring) reclaims his spot in the front row, pushing Oryn Keeley back to the interchange and Josh Kerr out of the team.

Dolphins v Warriors R23 teams

The Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jake Averillo
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Jack Bostock
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Max Plath
10. Tevita Pangai Junior
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Connelly Lemuelu
13. Kenneath Bromwich
14. Oryn Keeley
15. Mark Nicholls
16. Ray Stone
17. Sean O’Sullivan

New Zealand Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
5. Edward Kosi
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Marata Niukore
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Dylan Walker
14. Freddy Lussick
15. Tom Ale
16. Jazz Tevaga
17. Leka Halasima

Dolphins v Warriors predictions

These two sides met earlier this year in Auckland, where the Warriors secured a four-point win without Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck and front-row enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake. With their biggest stars back in the side, spurred on by the news of Johnson’s retirement, back the Warriors to win in Brisbane at $2.80 odds with top NRL bookmakers.

Fonua-Blake has had one of the best try-scoring seasons for a front-rower in recent years. He’s scored eight tries from his 19 appearances this season, including two in his last three games. With that record, the former Sea Eagle is a great value play to score again at $3 with Unibet.

In each of the three matches to date between the Dolphins and Warriors, the points total has finished below the line set by the bookies. With both sides pushing for a finals spot, expect a hard-fought contest with fewer than 52 points scored. The under offers good value at $1.98 with Neds.

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