Star's heartbreaking Origin blow: Four things learnt from Dolphins' defeat
However, referee Peter Gough ruled the ball went backwards – drawing the ire of the 32,165 Suncorp Stadium fans – and the Warriors charged down field to score through Kurt Capewell on the same set.
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Meanwhile, the Bunker denied the hosts two tries through Kodi Nikorima and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, with knock-ons deemed in the kick contest – contributing to their total 16 errors to the Warriors' seven.
Without key forwards Max Plath (foot) and Daniel Saifiti (shoulder), along with Gilbert's absence, the Dolphins were beaten through the middle and would have been stoked to go into half-time only down by four points.
There was some strong, desperate Dolphins' defence at times – Katoa holding up Harris-Tevita and forcing an error, while Nikorima and Tabuai-Fidow both held up Niukore on separate occasions among the 31 tackles they were forced to make inside their own 20-metre line.
But by the break, the Kiwi outfit were dominating the battle for post-contact metres (327 to 218), and the manner in which both tries were scored simply seemed to break the Dolphins' spirit, before their fifth-tackle options lacked too much genuine threat to the Warriors' defence.
Late tries to Tabuai-Fidow, shortly after the Warriors had extended their lead when Jacob Laban latched onto a bomb, and Herbie Farnworth – the latter after James Fisher-Harris was sin binned for a high shot – kept the Dolphins in the hunt with two minutes on the clock.
Capewell's last-ditch Origin bid
Has Kurt Capewell just launched a last-ditch bid to garner a Queensland recall?
In terms of the back-row depth at the Maroons' disposal, Beau Fermor, Jeremiah Nanai, Jaydn Su'A and even Reuben Cotter are the likely front-runners for the May 28 series launch.
But Capewell's versatility to jump into centre – as demonstrated on Saturday – could be his ticket to a shock inclusion come Monday morning.
Facing off against two-time Dally M Centre of the Year Herbie Farnworth, the 31-year-old produced a brutal hit on the Englishman at one stage, while he finished with a try and 100 running metres.
He may have missed five tackles while making 23, but the nature of some of his hits – getting in Farnworth's face, and in the contest – was impressive.
While it would take a bold move for Billy Slater to bring Capewell into his Maroons backline – Tabuai-Fidow and Valentine Holmes the short-priced favourite centre pairing – last year he showed his preference to have an outside back on his bench.
Capewell's ability to jump into the backline, which the former has done at Origin level in the past, may eradicate that need.
Barnett's Origin bid complete
He has been an inspirational leader for the Warriors while James Fisher-Harris has been sidelined with a pectoral strain, and now Mitch Barnett should be considered one of the leading contenders to line up in the New South Wales front line.
The prop was the key man in establishing his side's go-forward dominance – finishing with 160 running metres and 33 tackles to force the Dolphins into regular goal-line defence early on.
Payne Haas is perhaps the only certain selection when Blues coach Laurie Daley unveils his side, but Barnett's durability – getting through 65 minutes of action – and no-nonsense approach looms as the perfect foil to the Bronco superstar's brute force.
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