It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Tigers, who suffered a 68-0 defeat at the hands of the Panthers earlier this season.

It is the fourth time in seven seasons the Panthers have won the minor premiership.

The result means the Panthers finish top and will face the Sydney Roosters, while the Warriors will take on the Dolphins, who will play their first-ever finals match.

The finals format – 1 v 4, 2 v 3, 5 v 8 and 6 v 7 – sends the winners of the first two games straight to the preliminary finals, where they will host a match for a place in the grand final. The losers get a second chance and will host the winners of the two sudden-death elimination finals.

That means the winner of the Warriors-Dolphins clash will advance straight to the preliminary finals, while the loser will host either the South Sydney Rabbitohs or Newcastle Knights in the semi-finals.

The week one finals schedule will see the Rabbitohs host the Knights in the first elimination final on Friday night, while Saturday sees the Warriors take on the Dolphins and the Sharks face the Cowboys in the other elimination clash.

Then on Sunday, the Panthers host the Sydney Roosters in the other qualifying final. The winner will also advance straight to the preliminary finals, while the loser will get a second chance against the winner of the Sharks v Cowboys clash.

Even though the Warriors missed out on a second club minor premiership, they can still hold their heads high, with their win making it the most successful regular season in club history, with 18 wins.

They were also the highest-scoring team of the regular season, scoring 728 points, which is the eighth-most in an NRL season. They also only conceded 418 points, giving them the second-best defensive record in the NRL, behind only the Panthers.

It is the third time in four years under Andrew Webster the Warriors will play finals football, and the first time in back-to-back seasons since 2010-2011.

The Warriors’ clash against the Dolphins will provide plenty of intrigue, considering how close their battles have been in recent seasons.

In 10 meetings, both sides have won five each, with the Warriors scoring 242 points in those games compared to the Dolphins’ 232.

The last seven meetings between the teams have all been decided by four points or fewer, including twice this season, with both games won by two points apiece.

Back in round eight, the Warriors overcame a 12-point deficit to claim a 20-18 win on Anzac Day in Wellington.

Then in round 17 in Brisbane, the Warriors thought they had snatched victory, before a Selwyn Cobbo try in the final two minutes saw the Dolphins clinch a 26-24 win.

The Warriors have won three of their four meetings played at Mt Smart.

NRL finals schedule

Week one:

Second elimination final: Rabbitohs (6th) v Knights (7th), Friday September 11 at 9.50pm (NZT).

Second qualifying final: Warriors (2nd) v Dolphins (3rd), Saturday September 12 at 6.05pm.

First elimination final: Sharks (5th) vs Cowboys (8th), Saturday September 12 at 7.50pm.

First qualifying final: Panthers (1st) vs Roosters (4th), Sunday September 13 at 6.05pm.

Week two: (dates and times TBC)

First semi-final: Loser first qualifying final (Panthers or Roosters) v winner of first elimination final (Sharks or Cowboys).

Second semi-final: Loser of second qualifying final (Warriors or Dolphins) v winner of second elimination final (Rabbitohs or Knight).

Week three: (dates and times TBC)

First Preliminary Final: Winner of first qualifying final (Panthers or Roosters) v winner of second semi-final (Warriors, Dolphins, Rabbitohs or Knights).

Second Preliminary Final: Winner of second qualifying final (Warriors or Dolphins) v winner of first semi-final (Panthers, Roosters, Sharks or Cowboys).

Week four:

NRL grand final: Winner of first preliminary final v winner of second preliminary final, Sunday October 4.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.