Matchday Details
Sunday, August 31 – 4:05pm (AEST) – Suncorp Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Bunker: Chris Butler
Dolphins
1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Aublix Tawha 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr 18. Kenneath Bromwich 19. LJ Nonu 20. James Walsh 21. Peter Hola 22. Jon Fineanganofo
Titans
1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Keano Kini 15. Klese Haas 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston 18. Tukimihia Simpkins 19 Sean Mullany 20. Cooper Bai 21. Carter Gordon 22. Tony Francis
Match Preview
The final game of round 26 sees an all-Queensland clash with two teams out of form but in very different places.
The home side The Dolphins were given three games against their fellow finals candidates and they have lost all three, conceding over 50 points a game in that run. Somehow they are still in the hunt with other results and opponents’ fixtures going their way, so they can officially prolong or say goodbye to their 2025 finals hopes this weekend. If they can’t beat a side running last and holding a healthy H2H advantage over, then they don’t deserve to play finals football. Some could argue they don’t deserve it now, but the Dolphins are capable of beating anyone and are scoring plenty this season, and so could be a threat if they make it and get a few key players back.
For the Titans they enter Sunday’s clash on the back of mid-week news of Des Hasler being let go as coach for 2026, with an overdue head coach appointment for Josh Hannay. His problems lie ahead for 2026, but for this season Hasler can still sign off his Gold Coast coaching career by avoiding the wooden spoon with one more win than Newcastle over the next two rounds with a slightly better for-and-against. The Titans may be on a four-game losing streak, but haven’t being flogged every game, noting the first loss in that run is the now infamous game against Penrith, which they almost upset the four-time reigning premiers.
Team news for the Dolphins is Kodi Nikorima back into the side, a welcome return after being a late scratching for last weekend’s Manly clash, and his contribution to the Dolphins’ good times in 2025 has been massively underrated. Before his hamstring injury in round 17, the Dolphins were one of the hottest teams in the competition: from round 18 the Dolphins have won twice and lost four times, including the recent three-game horror run. His return to five-eighth means Jake Averillo returns to his regular position of centre, and he will partner Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the centres as the experiment to squeeze Trai Fuller into the side at fullback is given at least one more week. It could all end in tears like the Manly game, but at least the Dolphins will be attacking until the end. Connelly Lemuelu moves from the bench to replace Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. Aublix Tawha is very capable addition to the bench.
Thankfully Ray Stone will play on through any pain for the Dolphins.
Whether Hasler had picked his team before knowing he was going to be sacked is unknown, but the starting 17 is unchanged for this clash. But there is still a couple of interesting players among the reserves in rugby convert Carter Gordon, and Cooper Bai, son of legendary PNG winger Marcus. The Titans might think they have nothing to lose by playing them.
Still plenty to play for at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday, and you get the feeling it will be a game with lots of points.
Stats are on the side of the Dolphins as they lead the Titans H2H 4-1, but the only loss is at Suncorp Stadium. Not helping themselves in a Queensland derby game, the Gold Coast have also lost all five games so far this season against Queensland sides. But a sneaky stat for the Titans shows they are W5 L1 vs Qld sides at Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 16.
See our full Round 26 Predictions (live Wednesday 12pm) here: 2025 NRL Tipping: Round 26 Writer Predictions
Have your say: Who wins? Drop your tip in the comments or vote in our poll.
