Queensland bragging rights and crucial competition points are on the line when the Dolphins and Cowboys clash in a blockbuster Sunday afternoon showdown at Suncorp Stadium. With both sides sitting inside the top eight and coming off vastly different performances, the stakes couldn’t be much higher as the finals race begins to heat up.

The Dolphins welcome back several State of Origin stars as they look to rebound from last week’s stunning defeat, while the Cowboys arrive with confidence after back-to-back wins. Check out our full preview, key match-ups, bold prediction and expert tip for what promises to be one of the most entertaining contests of Round 20.

Read Full Previews

Matchday Details

Sunday, 19 July 2026 – 4:05pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Grant Atkins | 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 (c), 7. Bradley Schneider, 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. Tevita Naufahu, 19. Sebastian Su’a, 20. Brian Pouniu, 21. Trai Fuller, 22. John Fineanganofo

North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Braidon Burns, 3. Zac Laybutt, 4. Tom Chester, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Jaxon Purdue, 7. Jake Clifford, 8. Griffin Neame, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Jason Taumalolo, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Reuben Cotter (c), 14. Soni Luke, 15. Kai O’Donnell, 16. Matthew Lodge, 17. Coen Hess, 18. Sam McIntyre, 19. Kaiden Lahrs, 20. Liam Sutton, 21. Ethan King, 22. Tom Dearden

Match Preview

The Dolphins and Cowboys meet on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium in a game being dubbed the “Dynamite Derby” in places on social media, and which might be appropriate if the Dolphins offer a similar effort to their 66-0 loss last weekend, as their finals hopes could explode.

On the back of eight straight wins, the Dolphins were being touted as dark horses for the premiership, but the manner of their loss to the Sharks last weekend has had many re-assessing any type of equine association. Whilst it’s only one bad loss, and it’s only a run of two losses in a row following their loss to Newcastle, the Dolphins have form every season of starting to lose games at this stage of the season and falling out of the finals. The Dolphins have won just three of 16 games played between Rounds 20 and 25 across their last three seasons.

North Queensland have been quite the opposite of the Dolphins in 2026 with very few long streaks of results, and they come into this clash on the back of two impressive results – a home win against Penrith and beating Manly at 4 Pines Park last weekend. Prior to those wins, the Cowboys had lost three in a row, one of the losses to the Dolphins in Townsville, a fourth straight loss at home to this weekend’s opponent. The away team does very well in this fixture, with the home side winning just once in the seven games played so far.

The Dolphins welcome back their State of Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jack Bostock, and Selwyn Cobbo, which should be a boost for this clash; but the Dolphins haven’t really suffered during the Origin period, with their strong depth being up to the task up until last weekend. But any side is better with this returning trio. Max Plath has been named but did leave the field with an ankle injury last weekend. To the disappointment of many, cult hero Ray Stone isn’t in the squad through injury for a third week, and talk of a one-year deal being offered by Penrith for 2027 has many starting to question the Dolphins’ recruitment policy.

A big potential inclusion for the Cowboys is Tom Dearden, who is named on the extended bench for a second week, but is more of a chance of playing this weekend. He’ll be keen to go and prove his worth after injury and the form of Sam Walker had lost him pecking order rights for State of Origin. If he starts, the Cowboys might need to play musical chairs, but they are quite the adaptable bunch. There’s two forward changes, with Griffin Neame in for Thomas Mikaele and Kai O’Donnell replaces John Bateman.

Both sides like to attack and have plenty of weapons at their disposal, so there should be plenty of points in this game at least: six out of seven matches between the sides have cleared 50 points, and three have seen 60 points or more.

Keys to that attacking prowess are the two fullbacks: Tabuai-Fidow (aka The Hammer) and North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater, which could be entertaining enough. Drinkwater is an assisting machine, leading the Line Break Assists with 23 for the 2026 season, and just three behind Braydon Trindall for Try Assists on 18. Tabuai-Fidow is a Suncorp Stadium try-scoring machine – with 27 tries in 33 games for the Dolphins at the ground, and he scored two in last year’s 43-24 win over the Cowboys.

On paper, the Dolphins have the advantage in the three quarters, with three of their five players all Origin-standard this season. Herbie Farnworth is arguably the game’s form centre, and there’s barely a winger more reliable than Jamayne Isaako. Not to say the North Queensland back five won’t cause the Dolphins problems either – seven of the Sharks’ 11 tries last weekend came through their centres and wingers, with doubles for both centres.

The halves is where North Queensland have the edge, with the potential line up of Jake Clifford and Tom Dearden. The Dolphins are missing Isaiya Katoa more every week: although Brad Schneider is an adequate replacement, Katoa has been missed. The ongoing 2027 contract situation for Kodi Nikorima can’t help either, although he was one of the Dolphins’ best in their eight-game winning run, which seems so long ago now.

The forward packs are evenly matched, with the Dolphins’ pack and bench featuring plenty of old Cowboys players, all of whom have done quite well for themselves at the Dolphins.

It’s an important match with more than Queensland pride on the line: these teams currently sit seventh and eighth on the ladder and a loss could see that team drop out of the top eight at the wrong time of the year. The Dolphins’ previous advantage of a huge for and against took quite the hit last weekend, so they need to turn that around quickly. It helps that the Dolphins have a good record against North Queensland with five wins from seven games, but only one win in three games at Suncorp Stadium doesn’t help.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 4.
Full Round 20 tips → /nrl-round-20-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score a length-of-the-field try to seal the win for the Dolphins.

Want to try your hand at writing match previews?
We’re always looking for new rugby league contributors to share their thoughts on upcoming NRL games.
No experience needed — just strong opinions and a love of the game
👉 Get started here

Subscribe to our weekly tips

We'll send you our weekly predictions once they're posted to Rugby League Zone!

No spam, you can cancel at any time.

Previous articleBulldogs vs Tigers Preview (Round 20, 2026): Team News, Team Lists & Prediction
Next articleWarriors vs Dragons Preview (Round 20, 2026): Team News, Team Lists & Prediction
Shannon Meyer
http://www.thegurgler.com/
X

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.