A top-four shootout awaits on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium as the Roosters and Dolphins clash in what could be a dress rehearsal for finals football. With just two rounds remaining in the regular season, both sides remain firmly in the hunt for a coveted top-four finish and a potential double chance in September. The Roosters will be looking to bounce back from their shock loss to the Tigers, while the Dolphins have the opportunity to prove they belong among the competition’s genuine premiership contenders.

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Matchday Details

Saturday, 29 August 2026 – 5:30pm AEST – Allianz Stadium, Sydney
📺 Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Todd Smith | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Billy Smith, 3. Hugo Savala, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Salesi Foketi, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Nat Butcher, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Taylor Losalu, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Tommy Talau, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Rex Bassingthwaighte, 22. Toby Rodwell

The 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. Tom Gilbert, 11. Max Plath, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Ray Stone, 15. Francis Molo, 16. Felise Kaufusi, 17. Brian Pouniu, 18. Bradley Schneider, 19. Jake Averillo, 20. Tevita Naufahu, 21. Sebastian Su’a, 22. Kurt Donoghoe

Match Preview

The Roosters’ recent winning streak had them looking the goods for the minor premiership, but a second upset loss to the Tigers in consecutive seasons last weekend saw them lose ground for top spot to the Warriors. They sit third only on points difference to the Warriors and Penrith, but such is the competitiveness in the top teams this season that a loss to the Dolphins of 12 points or more could see this week’s opponents overtake them and keep alive the slenderest of minor premiership hopes.

One does wonder if the timing of the Tigers’ loss last weekend will be a good or bad thing for the Dolphins. Was it the beginning of a late-season wobble, or just a blip that the Dolphins will get punished for this weekend? The eight-game winning run before last weekend’s loss suggests it’s a blip, but it’s interesting to note in that eight-game run the average winning margin was only eight points, if you exclude the 72-point lesson they handed the Cowboys. Also worth noting that most opponents in that run were top half teams or the fallen giants Broncos and Melbourne. The Roosters record vs current top eight sides is seven wins and four losses. The Dolphins, for the record, are six wins and five losses.

You could certainly argue the Dolphins are one of the form teams in the competition too, currently on a five-game winning streak, and have won 13 of their last 15. But it could be argued that there’s still plenty of upside to the Dolphins, who continue to start games slow, and are yet to put together even 60 minutes of their best rugby league for a while now. They have shown less than half of that can win regular season football games, but it surely won’t be enough against the best in the finals. But it’s progress at least from previous seasons – or the late-season decline – that they head into Round 26 not only with a guaranteed finals spot, but a big chance of a top four position.

The slow starts could be one weakness for the Dolphins: they have scored the first try in just seven games this season compared to the Roosters’ competition-leading 15 times. But peculiarly the Roosters end up having a worse first half win record of 45% than the Dolphins’ 54%. But worth noting the Roosters have not lost after leading at half-time this season.

Teams news is good news for the Roosters, who welcome back James Tedesco: he replaces Cody Ramsey – who has done a fine job at the back for his team – but you can’t beat Tedesco’s big game experience. The problem is that the club doesn’t sound overly convincing that Tedesco will play, so Ramsey might have a job to do once more for the Roosters. The Dolphins have their own big-time player at the back in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who also has big-game experience and is due a big game.

One fascinating battle among so many for this top four clash is between the halfbacks, and one we could arguably see playing out at State of Origin level for the next decade, and even better is that they are such different players. Isaiya Katoa is the very organised, disciplined number seven who has shown maturity beyond his years after being earmarked as a key player for the Dolphins from their inception, and his reputation has grown every year. Sam Walker is more ad-lib, but that has worked for the Roosters this season with Daly Cherry-Evans and Tedesco as the supporting cast. It could be argued that Katoa could use a little more ad-lib in his play, and there has been a little bit of evidence in that since returning from injury, with more running of the football.

Arguably the Roosters have the advantage in the forward packs in terms of impact, with players like Naufahu Whyte and Lindsay Collins, but they will be without their lock Victor Radley through concussion, which will be a loss in such a big game. The Dolphins are without Connelly Lemuelu again, but that didn’t hurt them last week as rookie Brian Pouniu put in a great shift after unexpectedly starting, and Max Plath offered plenty as he usually does from the bench.

That bench has been important to the Dolphins over the course of the season, often needed to claw back a game after a slow start, and who better to do that than Ray Stone and potentially Kurt Donoghoe returning from injury (named in the number 22 jersey). Donoghoe has had an outstanding season, and if he is anywhere near fit he will play. The Roosters bench offers plenty too, with Connor Watson and Spencer Leniu.

The Roosters have a great record at Allianz Stadium, on a Saturday and against Queensland teams, but a lesser-known stat for the Dolphins is their terrific record in Sydney this season: four games, four wins (including one at WIN Stadium, Wollongong). For those that complain the Dolphins don’t travel enough to Sydney, be careful what you wish for. They have come a long way from their less successful earlier seasons of playing in Sydney. And in general. The top-four position is in their own hands now, and the perfect opportunity for taking a mental advantage over a potential finals opponent is on offer this weekend. For both teams.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Roosters by 4.
Full Round 26 tips → /nrl-round-26-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Roosters to score the first three tries of the match.

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