Matchday Details
Saturday, August 9 – 5:30pm (AEST) – Suncorp Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Gerard Sutton | Bunker: Grant Atkins
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Tevita Naufahu 5. Jake Averillo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Ray Stone 15. Aublix Tawha 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Josh Kerr 18. Harrison Graham 19. Peter Hola 20. LJ Nonu 21. Kenny Bromwich 22. Trai Fuller
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Egan Butcher 16. Salesi Foketi 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King 19. Blake Steep 20. Sandon Smith 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Zach Dockar-Clay
Match Preview
It’s a re-match of the Dolphins’ first ever game in the NRL as the Roosters visit Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night; and while this game won’t be as significant as that first ever fixture, it could be up there for importance. The Dolphins are currently in the top eight, and the Roosters are their nearest and most likely contender for that final spot, so a win over the Roosters on Saturday night will give the Dolphins a four-competition point gap, and effectively more given the huge difference in for-and-against.
So the Dolphins really do have their hopes in their own hands for making that first finals series, which would be an incredible feat given their 0-4 start to the season, the massive list of key injuries, and the dreaded curse of post-Wayne Bennett hanging above their heads at the start of the season.
Sadly for the Dolphins their injury list added another high profile player last weekend when Herbie Farnworth broke down mid-line break with a hamstring injury. Farnworth has arguably been the best, or at least most consistent centre in the NRL this season, so his loss is huge, and hardly welcome when they have already lost most of their starting forward pack and winger Jack Bostock. Tevita Naufahu (who has done well with limited opportunities this season) has been named to replace Farnworth in the centres, meaning Jake Averillo is on the wing. With Trai Fuller named among the reserves, it wouldn’t surprise if there weren’t a few changes before kick-off on Saturday.
More changes for the Dolphins in the forwards as Felise Kaufusi is suspended again, making him the second most suspended active player in the NRL. Conveniently Kulikefu Finefeuiaki returns from injury via the bench to fill the gap as Mark Nicholls moves up from the interchange bench. No dramas for the Roosters as they name the same 17 players who won last weekend’s wet and wild match against Manly.
Both side’s recent form has been hot and lukewarm. The Dolphins has proven in the last few months that they can blow teams off the park, but then struggle against the more aggressive sides. The Roosters’ record since June is W4 L4, but if you re-calculate the table into a “Winter Cup” (games in June, July, and August) the Roosters would sneak into eighth. Meanwhile, the Dolphins would be sitting fourth with a W5 L2 record.
It should be a quality game, full of great match-ups all over the field. Starting with two of the NRL’s great young halfbacks: the Roosters’ livewire and slightly unpredictable Sam Walker against the very consistent and unflappable Isaiya Katoa. It’s a match-up that could feature at Origin level in years to come. Further back and you have Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow up against James Tedesco, both of whom will no doubt be in the thick of the action. Tabuai-Fidow (aka The Hammer), has scored in seven of his last eight games, scored in his last five games at Suncorp Stadium, and leads the try scoring charts in 2025 with 17 tries. Tedesco is still playing as well as ever, and he currently leads the NRL for line breaks with 129. Coincidentally, the recently injured Farnworth is second on that stat.
With so many injuries in the forwards for the Dolphins, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Roosters look to have the superior forward pack on paper, and although the Dolphins’ replacements have been outstanding, they should be concerned about the quality in that Roosters pack.
Some stats favour the home side – the Dolphins are W5 L2 on a Saturday at Suncorp Stadium and Dolphins are W8 L2 vs Sydney teams at Suncorp Stadium. The Roosters aren’t without stats of their own, having already won both of their games at Suncorp Stadium this season, including a 36-26 win over the Dolphins at Magic Round. A lot of points were scored that night, and you could presume more are to come this weekend, as the Dolphins are averaging just under 50 points a game by themselves at Suncorp Stadium in their last three games.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 6
See our full Round 23 Predictions (live Wednesday 12pm) here: 2025 NRL Tipping: Round 23 Writer Predictions
Have your say: Who wins? Drop your tip in the comments or vote in our poll.
