The NRL finals begin with a double-header as the third-placed Dolphins travel to Auckland to face the second-placed Warriors, before the Sharks meet the Cowboys in an elimination contest.
Both the Dolphins and Warriors have exceeded pre-season expectations. The Dolphins have reached the finals for the first time in their fourth season, while the Warriors have remained in contention for the minor premiership despite injuries to several key players.
The opening match is expected to produce plenty of points, with the Dolphins boasting arguably the most talented backline in the competition and the Warriors ranking as the NRL’s highest-scoring team.
Later, fifth-placed Cronulla will put their season on the line against the eighth-placed Cowboys. The match will be played at Allianz Stadium rather than the Sharks’ usual home ground, Ocean Protect Stadium.
The Warriors-Dolphins match kicks off at 4.05pm, followed by Sharks-Cowboys at 7.50pm.
