There was no shortage of drama at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, June 27, but when the Dolphins needed someone to stand up in the closing minutes, Selwyn Cobbo answered the call.
With the contest slipping away after the Warriors fought back from eight points down in the second half, Cobbo broke the deadlock with just over two minutes remaining before Jamayne Isaako calmly added the conversion, sealing a gripping 26-24 victory that kept the Dolphins’ momentum rolling in front of their home crowd.
It was a finish that rewarded resilience as much as brilliance. Kristian Woolf’s side absorbed injuries, handled repeated momentum swings and found one decisive play when the game demanded it.
Fast Start Before the Warriors Hit Back
The Dolphins looked sharp from the outset.
After early pressure forced errors from the visitors, Cobbo crossed in the fifth minute to open the scoring. Isaako couldn’t add the extras, but the home side had the early advantage.
The Warriors responded almost immediately. Jacob Laban finished a sweeping movement before Adam Pompey converted to level the scores, and the visitors grabbed the lead 10 minutes later when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak finished in the corner.
The opening quarter also delivered an unexpected setback for the Dolphins.
Halfback Isaiya Katoa left the field in the 13th minute, with Bradley Schneider entering the game after a bunker review denied what initially looked like a Dolphins try. Losing their chief playmaker threatened to disrupt the home side’s rhythm, but they adapted impressively.
Farnworth and Isaako Swing Momentum
The Dolphins began to wrestle control back midway through the half.
Herbie Farnworth exploded through the defensive line to score in the 24th minute before Isaako converted to reduce the deficit to two points.
Just before the break, Isaako produced one of the game’s biggest moments himself. Spotting space out wide, he backed up the movement to finish his own try before converting from the sideline to hand the Dolphins a 16-12 lead at half-time.
It was a crucial turnaround after trailing for much of the opening period.
Dolphins Stretch Ahead
The second half opened with both teams trading chances before the Dolphins struck again.
Jack Bostock burst clear to create the opportunity for Isaako, who crossed for his second try in the 50th minute. The difficult conversion drifted away, leaving the Dolphins with an eight-point buffer at 20-12.
At that stage, the home side looked well placed to close out the contest.
Instead, the Warriors found another gear.
Warriors Refuse to Go Away
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad sliced through on the hour mark to narrow the margin before Sam Healey finished another break with just over five minutes remaining.
Pompey’s flawless night with the boot levelled the scores at 24-all and suddenly the momentum belonged entirely to the visitors.
The Warriors continued to press, forcing errors and building pressure as Suncorp grew increasingly tense.
Cobbo Has the Final Say
Big games are often decided by one moment.
With the match locked in the closing stages, Cobbo burst through the line in the 78th minute to score his second try of the afternoon, restoring the Dolphins’ lead.
Isaako made no mistake with the conversion, extending the margin to two points.
The Warriors had one final opportunity after another Dolphins bomb, but an error from Taine Tuaupiki inside the final minute ended the threat and sparked celebrations among the home supporters.
For long periods, this felt like a contest neither side deserved to lose.
The Dolphins simply found the final play that mattered most.
Match Summary
Dolphins 26 (Selwyn Cobbo 2, Herbie Farnworth, Jamayne Isaako 2 tries; Jamayne Isaako 3 goals)
defeated
Warriors 24 (Jacob Laban, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Sam Healey tries; Adam Pompey 4 goals)
Half-time: Dolphins 16-12 Warriors
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Published 27-June-2026
