Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 4 Battle of Brisbane clash between the Dolphins and the Brisbane Broncos.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
The Dolphins Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Friday March 28, 8:00pm (ADST)
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. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Oryn Keeley 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Josh Kerr 21. Max Feagai 22. Junior Tupou
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Deine Mariner 20. Martin Taupau 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Jock Madden
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Todd Smith
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Battle of Brisbane resumes this Friday for the fifth edition, with the local teams at different ends of the table. The Broncos are fifth – registering two wins in their first three games – and have looked impressive in those two wins. Less so in Canberra in between. Meanwhile their cross-town rivals are struggling. The Dolphins have lost all three games, with a good first half last weekend in their loss at Kayo Stadium to the Wests Tigers the highlight of the season so far. In addition to their post-Wayne Bennett blues, stats show that since 2013 only four of 24 teams that had a 0-3 record went on to make finals. Given the next run of opponents the Dolphins have, it could be 0 and plenty.
But the Dolphins should have fond memories of the most recent Battle of Brisbane. Not only was it their most recent win, it was a comprehensive 40-6 thrashing of the local rivals, at a ground where the support was Broncos-leaning, and they also knocked the Broncos out of finals contention for 2024 – a feat the Dolphins did to themselves the following week.
That night saw a piece of genius from Bennett as he mixed up the usual line-up to surprise the Broncos and most Dolphins fans. You can presume there won’t be any of that this Friday night, as the Dolphins have named an unchanged line-up from last weekend, although Jamayne Isaako isn’t 100% and is covered by Junior Tupou. That predictability is one of the Dolphins’ problems in 2025 so far. They are terribly predictable. Whilst a lot of scorn has been focused on the halves, there has been little spark in attack from the Dolphins for most of this season. The Hammer looks subdued, and the forwards are real workers but nothing explosive. Although there are good signs for off-season recruit Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. The effort seems to be there as always, but they don’t seem to threaten teams much. Maybe a certain ex-Dolphins junior being linked to a return could spice things up.
What the Dolphins lack is a Payne Haas, who was immense against the Cowboys last weekend, and most weekends to be honest. Last Friday he topped post-contact metres, tackle breaks, line breaks, ran for over 200 metres, and even threw in a try assist. He was ably assisted by Patrick Carrigan, who seems to be taking to his new role of starting prop well. In fact, most of Michael Maguire’s moves have paid off so far in 2025. Players like Jack Gosiewski and Gehamat Shibasaki have gone from potentially playing a lot of Queensland Cup to being regular starters in the NRL. So much so, that Shibasaki has kept his place in the side despite the return of Kotoni Staggs, with Deine Mariner making way for Staggs.
One battle which could be worth the price of admission at their best is the fullback head-to-head of Queensland Origin team mates Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. While the Dolphins fullback is more reliable, but still exciting and fast, Reece Walsh can turn a game on its head so quickly at his best. Often, the difference of his best and worst is the difference in the Broncos’ end result.
Stats are against the Dolphins for this Friday: the Broncos have won 10 straight at Suncorp Stadium on a Friday vs Qld sides and 27 of their last 30. It doesn’t help that the Dolphins have lost six of their last seven Friday games. Nor does their record of 0-4 at Suncorp Stadium on a Friday. Throw in a post-Bennett curse, and the Dolphins have not much going for them on Friday. But what a game to turn it all around and hold bragging rights for another five months.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 16 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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