More big games for more fans than ever await the Dolphins faithful and rugby league fans alike in 2024, with confirmation of the home and away schedule for the Phins’ second NRL season.
The Dolphins stunned the rugby league world with their dream first season. With the addition of internationals Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler and rising star Jake Averillo to a team featuring the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako, Tom Gilbert, Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, fans are chomping at the bit for the new season.
In a mouthwatering start, the Dolphins will open with a blockbuster XXXX Queensland Derby against the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, the only game in Brisbane to open the new season.
The Sunday 3pm kick-off time will evoke powerful memories for footy fans across the country, playing in the same slot that saw the Dolphins iconic triumph over the Roosters in our first game in the NRL last March.
The Cowboys will be the first of an increased eight home games for the Dolphins at Brisbane’s home of rugby league, up from seven last season. After averaging 32,500 fans per Suncorp game in 2023, fan demand assured the Dolphins would have no choice but to play an extra game in the heart of the city.
As with last year, the first home game at the club’s spiritual home, Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe, will come early, this time against the Dragons in round two on Sunday March 17.
The third edition of the “Battle for Brisbane” will again be early in the season, the Broncos hosting in round six in a Friday night showdown. The Dolphins then host the return match in our last home game in round 26, a game that promises to be one of the biggest of the year as finals berths are being chased.
Click here to view the full Dolphins 2024 NRL Draw.
In all, Brisbane’s newest team will play eight home matches at Suncorp Stadium, three at Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe, as well as one in Perth.
The venues for two Dolphins home games – against the Sea Eagles on Thursday May 9 and the Raiders on Saturday June 1 – remain to be confirmed, due to the finalisation of dates for weekend track works on the Queensland Rail network. One of these two games will be at Suncorp Stadium and one will be at Kayo Stadium.
At Suncorp Stadium, the Dolphins will also host the West Tigers (April 6), Newcastle Knights in ANZAC Round (April 28) and Manly on Thursday May 9 in the front end of the season, before coming home with a full slate of absolute blockbuster games.
Hosting the Storm (June 21), Titans (July 28) and Warriors (August 11) will add to the spectacle for Dolphins fans, before closing the home season with the massive “Battle for Brisbane” on August 31.
Said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader: “After the absolute thrill of our first NRL season in 2023, we are excited to have seen the NRL’s release of the 2024 season draw. Our goal through entry to the NRL has always been to help grow the game in Brisbane, in Queensland and across the country.
“Our commitment to playing more games Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane reflects the demand fans have for our team in the city, while we are also playing games interstate and in regional venues that takes the game to more fans than ever before. I am looking forward to the ‘Phin Fam’ turning up in force again to the ‘Ride The Wave’ with us in 2024,” said Reader.
A Friday night match in Perth in round 22 will be against the Roosters, the club that shares the wonderful legacy of the Immortal Arthur Beetson with the Dolphins. Playing at HBF Park, the game is expected to be a sell-out on free-to-air television across Australia.
After the Dragons in round two, the remaining Kayo Stadium games will be against Canberra on Saturday June 1 and the Rabbitohs on Thursday July 11.
The Dolphins will also play away games against the Parramatta Eels in Darwin (April 19) and the Bulldogs in Bundaberg, two regions in which the club has invested heavily into game development and pathways.
Plans to renovate Sunshine Coast Stadium ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games ruled it out as host of a regular season game for the foreseeable future. However, the importance of the Sunshine Coast has been reflected in the club hosting a Pre-Season Challenge game there on Sunday February 18.
Packages that include the eight games at Suncorp Stadium or 11-game offerings that also lock in the three games at Kayo Stadium are available now, the best way to secure the very best possible seats at both venues.
Partial-season packages will be released closer to the start of the season.
