Matchday Details
Friday, 15 May 2026 – 8:05pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Adan Gee | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray, 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Campbell Graham, 5. Edward Kosi, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Ashton Ward, 8. Keaon Koloamatangi, 9. Bronson Garlick, 10. Sean Keppie, 11. Euan Aitken, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Cameron Murray (c), 14. Matthew Dufty, 15. Lachlan Hubner, 16. Tevita Tatola, 17. Adam Elliott, 18. Jayden Sullivan, 19. Latrell Siegwalt, 20. Moala Graham-Taufa, 21. Thomas Fletcher, 22. Peter Mamouzelos
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. Max Plath, 10. Francis Molo, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Jeremy Marshall-King, 15. Ray Stone, 16. Tom Gilbert, 17. Felise Kaufusi, 18. Oryn Keeley, 19. Bradley Schneider, 20. Trai Fuller, 21. Tevita Naufahu, 22. Kurt Donoghoe
Match Preview
Friday night sees what could be the most entertaining game of the entire Magic Round weekend as the free-scoring South Sydney Rabbitohs and Dolphins meet for the second time this year at Suncorp Stadium.
The first game between these sides at Suncorp Stadium was in Round 1, and the wet conditions didn’t deter either side from laying on 70 points. South Sydney won 40-30 that day, but that scoreline flattered the Dolphins, who were down 28-10 at half time and didn’t really threaten for most of the game.
That half-time deficit has been a problem for the Dolphins this season: they have been slow to start most games, they have been behind at the break in six of their nine matches, and scored zero on three occasions. Even last weekend against the attack-shy Bulldogs, the Dolphins were sluggish to begin until the half-hour mark, when they went on to score six tries to none over the next 30 minutes. The problem ahead of this weekend is if Souths are in the mood they won’t be down by 6-10 points, it will 16-20 and more.
In saying that, if the Dolphins put together 80 minutes of their best they could score at a point-a-minute with ease, and the Rabbitohs wouldn’t be too far behind. They do have the leading try scorer of all time at their club in Alex Johnston, although sadly not this weekend.
Alex Johnston’s omission is one of the big stories for team selection for Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs, he has been replaced on the wing by Bayleigh Bentley-Hape who is playing his first NRL game of the season after nine appearances in 2025. Latrell Mitchell has been named, but with the grander prize of potential State of Origin selection on the horizon there’s every chance he won’t play in Brisbane. South Sydney lost not much with his namesake Latrell Siegwalt replacing him last weekend and should be the same this weekend as well. No doubt supercoach Wayne Bennett will give very little ahead of the game. The Dolphins did give Bennett a pre-game tribute on the big screen ahead of their Round 1 clash, but with a top eight berth on the line, perhaps the Dolphins won’t be as welcoming this time.
Talking of welcomes, Kurt Donoghue returns to the extended bench, and if he is fully fit one can presume he will play at some stage. Jeremy Marshall-King made his long-awaited return from injury last weekend and his injection into the game did coincide with the Dolphins’ best play. He shifts Max Plath to his best position of lock. It does put pressure on the bench, but the Dolphins would be reluctant to keep Ray Stone off the field, for so many reasons. No changes in the backline are needed as Jack Bostock makes the most of Jake Averillo’s continued absence and his own return from injury, he has done very well moving to the centres.
South Sydney currently sit fourth on the ladder with a 6-3 record, having scored the second highest amount of points for 2026 so far despite playing one game less thanks to a bye. They are averaging 32.9 points per game for the season and have scored 30+ points for the last six games. Their three losses have been by 2, 4 and 8 points, so have been in all of their games in 2026. To counter the Dolphins’ slow starts, South Sydney have won the second half in their last seven games, so the Redcliffe side will need to start better than they have in most games this season.
The Dolphins sit ninth on the ladder and come into the game on a two-game winning streak. Prior to that they had lost four in a row, but the last two losses of that run were a Golden Point loss to Penrith and narrow defeat by the Warriors, a decent formline despite losing given those sides currently sit first and second. Either result could see them not even gain a position on the ladder, but wins are needed to build momentum towards a final finish, the minimum expectation for the Dolphins this season.
Although changes didn’t seem to hurt the Rabbitohs last weekend, the uncertainty around which Latrell will play, and changes in the backline in general for South Sydney may be a disadvantage compared to the Dolphins, whose backline is very settled. The fullback battle should be very interesting with two great attacking players who are very different. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has arguably not been at his very best this season and is due a big game at a ground where he loves to score. So with an Origin jersey to nail down, a big game is expected.
For all the talk of point scoring in this game, the forward packs still offer plenty of interest. The two number 12s for either side have been break out players this season in Tallis Duncan and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, with the latter potentially playing himself an Origin jersey for Queensland. The Dolphins seem to be still searching for their best prop line-up and form: stats show that the Dolphins are dead last for Run Metres for starting props so far in 2026, South Sydney are third and 800 metres ahead. Meanwhile the Rabbitohs have Keaon Koloamatangi in great form, and he appears to have shaken off the minor injury concern. Koloamatangi had a big game against the Dolphins in Round 1, running for 253 metres and making 95 post contact metres.
One statistical quirk in this game is that there has not yet been a consecutive winner of this fixture, which is good news for the Dolphins, albeit there have only been five matches. Despite winning here earlier in the season, South Sydney’s away record is a concern. Since 2024 their away win record is only 25%, and even worse is their recent away record on a Friday – they have lost eight in a row. Talking of away, one may think that the Dolphins being the away team at their home ground is an advantage, but the stats prove that it really isn’t. The Dolphins have lost their last three games at Suncorp Stadium as the away team (W2 L4 overall) and they have lost all last three games at Suncorp Stadium as the away team on a Friday.
Stats, Origin selections, and weather aside, may it rain points for our entertainment on Friday night.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Dolphins by six
Bold call: Total points over 70.
Related
- NRL Round 10 Review
- NRL Round 11 Predictions
- NRL Round 11 Team Lists
- NRL Round 11 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
- Magic Round Historical Stats
