The Dolphins can move a step closer to securing a finals berth when they face their struggling Brisbane rivals in the latest Battle of Brisbane. Can the Broncos salvage some pride, or will the in-form Dolphins continue their charge towards September?

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Matchday Details

Saturday 8 August 2026 – 5:30pm – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Todd Smith | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jack Bostock, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 8. Thomas Flegler, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Francis Molo, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Kurt Donoghoe, 15. Max Plath, 16. Tom Gilbert, 17. Felise Kaufusi, 18. Sebastian Su’a, 19. Bradley Schneider, 20. Brian Pouniu, 21. Tevita Naufahu, 22. Jake Averillo

Brisbane Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Josiah Karapani, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Deine Mariner, 5. Grant Anderson, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Thomas Duffy, 8. Xavier Willison, 9. Billy Walters, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Jaiyden Hunt, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Patrick Carrigan (c), 14. Ben Hunt, 15. Va’a Semu, 16. Ben Talty, 17. Gehamat Shibasaki, 18. Jack Gosiewski, 19. Hayze Perham, 20. Blake Mozer, 21. Jesse Arthars, 22. Aublix Tawha

Match Preview

The Dolphins head into the second Battle of Brisbane in good shape and primed to get some revenge on the Broncos’ win earlier in the season, and the 2025 clash where the Dolphins squandered a 28-14 second-half lead to lose 38-28, a result which cost them finals momentum and saw the Broncos start their run to their 2025 premiership.

Form-wise, these teams couldn’t get much further apart. The Dolphins have won 10 of their last 12 games, a run which started with eight straight wins and included a rather large blip of a 66-0 home loss to the Sharks. They have recovered since and just got over the line last weekend against the Dragons, but still remain quite hot and cold. When hot, the Dolphins can rival any team, and in fact have beaten three of the top four this season and lost by just one point to Penrith. Isaiya Katoa returned last weekend and had a hand in the win, at both ends of the park, and he will only get better with more game time under his belt, so with the minimal amount of injuries the Dolphins have (unlike 2025), they have a chance to build some real finals momentum, and that must start this weekend as the current top four looked pretty awesome last weekend in Round 22.

Brisbane officially bowed out of the finals race last weekend, but that won’t stop the Dolphins looking to kick some local sand in their face. The Broncos have lost 10 of their last 11 games, winning just once since Anzac Day. The Suncorp Stadium factor is on the Dolphins’ side, at least this season. The Dolphins have won their last six home games at Suncorp Stadium, meanwhile the Broncos have the second worst home record this season – W2 L8 and have lost all three Saturday games at Suncorp Stadium this season.

But the elephant, or other animal, in the room is the Dolphins’ poor record against their local rival. The Broncos lead the head-to-head record 6-1, with the solitary Dolphins win at least in similar circumstances – a Dolphins home game at Suncorp Stadium on a Saturday night.

Team news centres on the Broncos, with changes galore due to both injuries and form. First of all, Adam Reynolds is out after suffering a game-ending head knock last weekend, and Tom Duffy gets a chance to impress as a dress rehearsal for 2027. Billy Walters has been named to start at hooker, and that will certainly help drive the attack. Corey Paix, last weekend’s starting hooker, isn’t even in the squad. Another improvement is Xavier Willison moving back to prop from second row, to make up a barnstorming trilogy of middle forwards including Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan. Willison has taken his game to the next level in 2026, filling in where needed in the Broncos’ pack, and is close to being the only Broncos player to have enhanced their reputation in 2026. His move to the front row sees some minor positional changes, with Jaiyden Hunt into the second row and Va’a Semu dropping to the bench.

That previously mentioned halves change for the Broncos highlights one area where the Dolphins have a real advantage. With Katoa back, it reunites one of the best halves combinations in the game in Kodi Nikorima and Katoa, a pairing reminiscent of a classic halves pairing for the opposition in the 1990s. Although you can’t rule out the Broncos playing Reece Walsh more in the halves as well, which is a good thing when he is in form and not pulling his or others’ hair out in frustration, but it’s hardly the consistency of the Dolphins.

Despite the Broncos’ changes above, you look at this premiership-winning side with some of the best in their position and wonder how it has all gone wrong in 2026. Injuries haven’t helped, but some of their best performances were without their injured or suspended stars, and the return of Haas hasn’t broken through the form barrier. Their three middle forwards of Haas, Willison, and Carrigan at their best should be the dominant three over the Dolphins trio of Thomas Flegler, Francis Molo, and Morgan Knowles, who are sluggish but volatile.

A few battles that should provide both entertainment and the keys to victory are the headline act of the fullbacks Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Walsh, and a similar impact – but with less showmanship – with the two number 12s in Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Jordan Riki. Finefeuiaki has been close to one of the Dolphins’ best all season, and Riki is a player capable of providing impact in both defence and attack.

Although Dolphins fans will be disappointed at the lack of Ray Stone, who may be recovering from scoring a try last weekend. Sebastian Su’a has the chance to replace Stone, although Jake Averillo has been named in jersey No. 22 jersey and could be some kind of impact player on his way back from injury.

A finals spot is now the Dolphins’ to lose. So to get one step closer to that goal and rub salt into the Broncos’ 2026 wounds should be plenty of motivation to win the Battle of Brisbane this weekend. At their respective bests it could one of the games of the season.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 16.
Full Round 23 tips → /nrl-round-23-predictions-2026/
Bold call: A hat-trick to Selwyn Cobbo.

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Shannon Meyer
http://www.thegurgler.com/
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