Match Preview: Round 26 – Dolphins v Titans
It’s a must-win game for the Dolphins as they return to Suncorp Stadium for their final home game at the venue for the season, facing the Titans in a XXXX Derby with finals hopes on the line.
The Dolphins sit ninth, just one spot out of finals contention and are desperate to bounce back after a tough loss to the Sea Eagles, while the Titans are also reeling after going down to the Warriors.
Sitting 17th on the ladder, the Titans will be eager to play spoiler, but the Dolphins will take confidence from their Round 5 clash at Cbus Super Stadium, where they piled on 36 points to record their first win of the season.
This match also doubles as the Thank You Members Round for the Dolphins, celebrating the incredible support of their loyal Members in 2025.
Team Changes
For the Dolphins, Kodi Nikorima is back and slots straight into five-eighth, but the Dolphins are without young forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who’s sidelined with an ankle injury.
Connelly Lemuelu has been promoted to the starting side to cover Finefeuiaki’s absence while Aublix Tawha is the new face on the bench.
The Titans have named the same squad that went down to the Warriors last week.
Clash of the Week
All eyes will be on the battle of the fullbacks this Saturday as Trai Fuller squares off with AJ Brimson.
For Fuller, 2025 has been about resilience and reward. After a delayed start to the season as he fought back from an ACL injury, the dynamic fullback made an instant impact, scoring a try in his first game back while racking up a huge 257 running metres. He backed it up with another strong performance the following week, tallying 148 metres, and has quickly become a spark for the Dolphins’ attack. His sharp footwork and ability to break the line make him a constant threat whenever he touches the ball.
On the other side, Brimson has been a standout for the Titans in a tough season. In 21 appearances, he’s racked up nine tries and 12 try assists, while averaging an impressive 142 running metres per game. His speed, ball-playing ability, and experience give the Titans a dangerous edge in attack.
It’s a duel of flair and determination, Fuller’s comeback story against Brimson’s consistency and it could go a long way to deciding which team takes bragging rights in this XXXX Derby.
The Run Home
The Dolphins sit ninth on the ladder with 26 points, two points adrift of the Roosters. To keep their finals dream alive, they not only need to beat the Titans this week, but also hope the Roosters stumble against the Storm. If both sides finish level on 28 points, it will come down to points differential to decide who claims a spot in the eight.
After the Titans, the Dolphins face a massive challenge in their final regular-season game — a clash with the ladder-leading Raiders at Kayo Stadium.
The equation is simple: the Dolphins must win their last two games to have any chance of locking in a historic first-ever finals berth.
