The Dolphins head into the final round of the regular season riding a six-game winning streak and with a top-four finish already secured. While there are no ladder implications for either side, Redcliffe will be eager to maintain momentum ahead of its maiden finals campaign, while the Titans are determined to avoid ending the year on a six-game losing streak. Expect an entertaining all-Queensland clash as the Dolphins look to finish the regular season on a high and the Titans aim to spoil their rivals’ party.

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Matchday Details

Friday, 4 September 2026 – 6:00pm AEST – Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
📺 Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Wyatt Raymond | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Gold Coast Titans: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Siale Faeamani, 3. Jaylan De Groot, 4. AJ Brimson, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Jayden Campbell, 7. Lachlan Ilias, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika, 9. Luke Sommerton, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (c), 11. Kurtis Morrin, 12. Beau Fermor, 13. Chris Randall, 14. Klese Haas, 15. Cooper Bai, 16. Bodhi Sharpley, 17. Sam Verrills, 18. Josh Patston, 19. Sunny Kama, 20. Tony Francis, 21. Jett Liu, 22. Adam Christensen

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jack Bostock, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Tevita Naufahu, 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. Kurt Donoghoe, 15. Ray Stone, 16. Francis Molo, 17. Felise Kaufusi, 18. Brian Pouniu, 19. Bradley Schneider, 20. Jake Averillo, 21. Connelly Lemuelu, 22. Sebastian Su’a

Match Preview

Friday’s all-Queensland clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Dolphins doesn’t have much more than Queensland pride on the line, but both sides also have reasons to win. For the Dolphins, a win and a good performance would build on arguably their best performance of the season against the Roosters last weekend, and keep the good vibes going into their first finals appearance. The Titans could overtake the Broncos on the ladder and consign their other South East Queensland rivals to second last with a win and a Brisbane loss to the Bulldogs the night before. One could argue that given the relative strength in squads, the Titans probably deserve to finish the season ahead of the Broncos.

The Titans come into their final game of the season on a run of five straight losses, the second run of five consecutive losses this season, but aside from the 42-6 drubbing handed to them by the Warriors to start that run, the Gold Coast side haven’t played that badly in that five-loss sequence. They were good at times last weekend against Souths, and were super generous in the allowances given to South Sydney’s wish to field Jai Arrow, which was one of modern rugby league’s great moments, potentially at their own detriment.

They get some handy team news with Beau Fermor back from injury; fellow forwards Moeaki Fotuaika and Chris Randall have been elevated to the starting side after playing from the bench last weekend. The only injured player missing this week is hooker Oliver Pascoe, who is replaced in the starting side by Luke Sommerton, with Sam Verrills providing the bench coverage. Klese Haas and Cooper Bai drop to the bench and could provide good impact. So the forwards are looking good for the Titans. They will need to be against the Dolphins’ in-form pack.

That Dolphins forward pack could be further bolstered by Connelly Lemuelu, who has been named on the extended bench, returning from injury. If he plays from the bench or not, the Dolphins are well covered with their starting pack and contributions from the bench, which have often been the difference between winning and losing in 2026. And the Dolphins have been doing a lot of winning.

Coming into the final round of the regular NRL season, the Dolphins have won six games straight, and 14 of the last 16 since the beginning of May. One of the two losses is a now scarcely believable 66-0 home loss to the Sharks, a side they were battling for a top four spot which they confirmed as theirs last weekend.

Aside from the potential return of Lemuelu, the Dolphins’ team news revolves around Selwyn Cobbo being rested with ankle soreness. While the Dolphins will miss his try-scoring heroics in the left corner, his replacement Tevita Naufahu has shone when given the chance in 2026 and will be keen to put on a show to remind the Dolphins of his worth, with Jamayne Isaako needing to be replaced for the 2027 season. It also wouldn’t surprise to see Jake Averillo get some minutes from the extended bench, as a reward for his excellent service for the Dolphins since 2024 before moving to the Wests Tigers next season, where they should enjoy his speed and skill. Although, whose expense that would come at on their stacked bench is unsure. Probably not the retiring Ray Stone for Kristian Woolf’s own safety.

Despite a great win last weekend, the Dolphins are still yet to overcome their slow starts to games, but one thing in their favour this weekend is the Gold Coast have scored the first try of a game just four times this season, making the Dolphins’ seven first try efforts look a little better. Even if the Titans can get to half-time in the lead, they are less likely to hold onto it, as they are the only team in the NRL this season to have lost more games after leading at half-time than won. One of those half-time leads they lost was to the Dolphins earlier in their season, where they led 8-0 at the break, and the Dolphins were lucky the deficit was that small. Gold Coast went on to lose 18-14 in a pretty scrappy early season game.

Another stat in favour of the Dolphins is their record on the Gold Coast, where they are yet to lose a game in their three visits since joining the competition: the overall Head-to-Head is 6-1 to the Dolphins.

Stats aside, one huge advantage the Dolphins have over the Titans is the halves, in both stability and form. The Dolphins have one of the superstar halfbacks of the future in Isaiya Katoa, and their five-eighth Kodi Nikorima has arguably been as big a contribution to their success this season – and it’s hard to argue that he isn’t in career-best form. The Titans, meanwhile, have changed a little more throughout 2026 through injury and form, with four different combinations throughout the season, and while Jayden Campbell has been a mainstay and been very good at times in 2026, he hasn’t dominated as many games as the Dolphins pair.

Some Friday stats to round off: these teams are yet to meet on a Friday, the Dolphins have won their last six Friday games, and the Gold Coast have lost both of their Friday games this season. But the Dolphins won’t have just Friday on their mind: there’s a first finals appearance ahead, and by naming a full-strength side – unlike others in the top eight – they intend to ride their momentum into the sharp end of the season.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 16.
Full Round 27 tips → /nrl-round-27-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Ray Stone to score, and hate it.

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