Matchday Details
Sunday, 8 March 2026 – 4:05pm AEDT – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Peter Gough | Senior Review Official: Belinda Sharpe
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 8. Tom Gilbert, 9. Kurt Donoghoe, 10. Thomas Flegler, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Bradley Schneider, 15. Oryn Keeley, 16. Felise Kaufusi, 17. Trai Fuller, 18. Sebastian Su’a, 19. Brent Woolf, 20. Lewis Symonds, 21. Tevita Naufahu, 22. Brian Pouniu
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Jye Gray, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Ashton Ward, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Bronson Garlick, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. David Fifita, 12. Euan Aitken, 13. Cameron Murray (c), 14. Peter Mamouzelos, 15. Tallis Duncan, 16. Lachlan Hubner, 17. Sean Keppie, 18. Jayden Sullivan, 19. Moala Graham-Taufa, 20. Liam Le Blanc, 21. Thomas Fletcher, 22. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape
Match Preview
Wayne Bennett returns to a place he knows well, against a team he set up, when his South Sydney Rabbitohs visit Suncorp Stadium on Sunday to face The Dolphins.
Both teams missed the top eight last season, with injuries giving a genuine excuse, but both of these teams will be expecting a top eight finish in 2026 with a full book of players. The Dolphins would be the most unhappy with missing out after patches of looking like the hottest team in the competition during 2025. South Sydney looked like they might even end up with the wooden spoon last season, so 14th in the end wasn’t too bad.
The Dolphins and Rabbitohs will be happy with the lack of injuries heading into this first round clash after a nightmare run in 2025. That doesn’t mean there aren’t absentees, with the Dolphins missing three of the four potential hookers in Jeremy Marshall-King, Max Plath, and Ray Stone. The long-term absence of winger Jack Bostock solves a short-term headache with finding a place for Selwyn Cobbo. Jamie Humphreys’ suspension allows Ashton Ward to get the starting role for round 1 ahead of Jayden Sullivan – who has been named on the bench.
The Dolphins have named their strongest forward pack in possibly their history, with Tom Flegler and Tom Gilbert named as the starting props for the Dolphins, with Super League recruit Morgan Knowles the wildcard at lock. The Rabbitohs themselves have a key player returning from a long-term injury in Cameron Murray: the Rabbitohs did miss his work rate in 2025 and aren’t shy of power up the middle with Tevita Tatola and Keaon Koloamatangi. The big wildcard in the forwards for either side is new Rabbitoh David Fifita. If Wayne Bennett can unlock Fifita’s best, then South Sydney could have the edge on Sunday.
The Dolphins arguably have the upper hand across the spine with tried-and-true combinations: halves Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa are playing in their 48th game together this Saturday. On the other hand, the Rabbitohs have the experienced Cody Walker alongside Ward, but they are yet to start in the halves together. Both teams have exciting fullbacks, but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the known quantity at the back after three stellar seasons with the Dolphins; meanwhile Jye Gray did so well when given the chance in 2025, but the pressure is on this season given they have shifted Latrell Mitchell to give him a fair go at the number one spot. Kurt Donoghoe may not be a full-time hooker for the Dolphins, but he was an integral part of the side in 2025 across a wide range of positions, playing 22 games. Alternatively, the Rabbitohs’ starting hooker Bronson Garlick is an off-season recruit.
The match-up of the centres will be one of the highlights, with Mitchell being one of the spotlights. Latrell has been shifted into the centres, where he has historically done his best work, and the Rabbitohs needed more of that in 2025. With a roaming Fifita now at Souths the Rabbitohs have some real power out wide at their respective best. The Dolphins have one of the centres of the 2025 season in Herbie Farnworth, and with Broncos recruit Cobbo outside him, it could be line break-a-plenty this weekend and every weekend. On the other side of the field both teams have unsung heroes from last season in Jack Wighton – who was arguably one of Souths’ best – and Jake Averillo, who proved a key player with speed and versatility in 2025.
South Sydney have lost their last five games at Suncorp Stadium covering 2024 and 2025. The Rabbitohs have also won only two of their last 10 Sunday games anywhere. The Dolphins are 2/2 at Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday against Sydney teams, with one of those wins including their first ever game in 2023.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 10 points.
Bold call: Cobbo to score first, with three try assists for Katoa, and the total points scored over 50.
Related
- NRL Round 1 (Week 2) 2026 Predictions & Tips
- NRL Round 1 Team Lists – 2026 Season
- NRL 2026 Results Tracker
- 2026 NRL Match Review Results Tracker: Charges, Suspensions & Fines
