Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 14 clash between the Dolphins and the St George Illawarra Dragons.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
The Dolphins Vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Friday June 6, 8:00pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Ray Stone 14. Harrison Graham 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Aublix Tawha 20. Max Feagai 21. Jeremy Marshall-King 22. Max Plath
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Nathan Lawson 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jack de Belin 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Toby Couchman 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Emre Guler 19. Lachlan Ilias 20. Hame Sele 21. Tyrell Sloan 22. Michael Molo
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
An important clash for top eight hopefuls awaits on Friday night as the Dolphins play St George-Illawarra for their first meeting at Suncorp Stadium. The Dolphins, who are two places and two competition points behind the Dragons, could find themselves in the top eight with a win by the end of the weekend, which would be a decent effort at this stage of the season, given they started the season with four straight losses. As ever under Shane Flanagan, the Dragons are defying the doomsday pre-season predictions to sit eighth. So, it looks an evenly matched clash.
The Dolphins come into the game from a bye and a win over the competition-leading Bulldogs – and also could welcome back some of their missing stars with Jeremy Marshall-King and Max Plath named on the extended bench. If either comes into the starting side, it will probably be at the expense of Kurt Donoghoe, which would be a shame after his heroics against the Bulldogs. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returns from State of Origin duty and will play at fullback, seeing Jake Averilllo return to the centres. In good news for Hammer coverage, one of 2024’s breakout stars Trai Fuller played in Queensland Cup and could be ready to fill in for Tabuai-Fidow when needed. Ray Stone keeps his starting lock position despite going off injured last round. The Dolphins wouldn’t dare drop him.
The Dragons also enjoyed a bye last weekend but are missing Jaydn Su’A for this weekend through injury, which is a shame for club and player, as the second rower would have been close to Queensland Origin selection for game two given their lacklustre form and need for some impact on the edges. There’s one major addition however, as Christian Tuipulotu returns on the wing at the expense of Tyrell Sloan.
The Dolphins have been hot and cold in 2025, as their midfield ladder position suggests, and often within the same game, with the most obvious case being their loss in Canberra. But they can turn on the points as their recent wins over the Bulldogs and Melbourne have shown, and you could argue the home side have the edge when comparing backlines. They have one of the best centres in the game in Herbie Farnworth, one of the leading points-scorers of the competition in Jamayne Isaako, their halves are settled, and in Isaiya Katoa they have a young player that is maturing nicely having been given the opportunity to play every week in the right position.
St George Illawarra have been less spectacular, but more consistent it could be argued, with five wins and six losses and also benefitting from two byes already. But aside from the Anzac Day drubbing by the Roosters, the Dragons losses have been six points or less, with three one-point losses. So, with a bit more luck could be almost in the top four. Their wins are usually modest too, which leaves their for-and-against at just +3 for 2025, behind the +42 for the Dolphins.
This fixture has been a home team special so far, with all four games played since the Dolphins’ arrival in 2023 seeing the home side victorious. But the Dolphins’ record at Suncorp Stadium is hit-and-miss. They have won just one of seven there on a Friday, although their one win was the magnificent win over Melbourne earlier this season. But the Dolphins’ record at Suncorp Stadium vs Sydney clubs is six wins and two losses. The Dragons are similarly mixed at Suncorp Stadium. They have won two of their last three there (both wins vs Broncos) but have won just one of their last seven at the ground on a Friday. The Dragons’ away form on a Friday is pretty poor too: going back to 2012, the Dragons have won just four of their 28 away games on a Friday vs all clubs. And 1/8 vs Qld sides in that run. The obscure stat of the weekend is the Dragons have won their last two games at Suncorp Stadium vs Qld sides by the same score (30-26).
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Dolphins by 2 points.
Check out our round 14 predictions here.
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