NRL 2025: Dolphins relying on Bennett's Rabbitohs to write new chapter in Book of Feuds

Author: Brad Walter NRL Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Mon 1 Sep 2025, 07:49 AM

After holding out the Titans to keep their finals hopes alive, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf and forward Felise Kaufusi were asked if they would urge former mentor Wayne Bennett to pull out all stops to inspire his Rabbitohs to beat the Roosters.

Bennett and South Sydney have been out of the finals race for some time, but they could still impact on the fate of the Roosters and Dolphins, who are locked in a battle for the eighth place in the play-offs

If the Roosters beat the Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium on Friday night they will secure the last remaining finals spot but if Souths win the Dolphins will have an opportunity to claim the berth by downing Canberra at Kayo Stadium on Sunday.

NRL Round Up – Round 26, 2025

Such an outcome would be worthy of a new chapter in the Book of Feuds, and the Rabbitohs could welcome back captain Cameron Murray for his first match of the season, along with Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton.

Another motivation for Souths will be to help Alex Johnston break Ken Irvine's 52-year record of 212 premiership tries, with the PNG international just two tries behind.

It would also create history for the Dolphins if Bennett, their foundation coach, could help his successor and former players to the club's first finals series - a feat they were unable to achieve in his three seasons at the helm.

"They're big games, with that rivalry between the Roosters and the Rabbitohs, so I dare say they will be up to it," Kaufusi said.

Round 27 - Round 27 - Friday 5 Sep

Full Time

Roosters

Rabbitohs

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

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As Bennett's first signing at the Dolphins, it was suggested the master coach owes Kaufusi a favour and the Tongan international joked that he would be calling on him to repay it.

"Absolutely, I will be doing my best to try and get one back," Kaufusi said.

Woolf insisted the Dolphins would prepare for the match against the Raiders the same as every game this season, regardless of the result at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

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"It's up to you guys to write the story, we have got to worry about getting ourselves together," he said.

"Obviously we would love that result to go our way but at the end of the day we have got to prepare to play Canberra and play really well.

Round 27 - Round 27 - Sunday 7 Sep

4:00 am

Dolphins

Raiders

Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

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"If we are playing for something more then great, but the performance is just as important either way."

The other seven finals teams have all been determined, with the Raiders crowned minor premiers at GIO Stadium last Saturday after the Storm lost to the Roosters on Friday night and the Green Machine edged Wests Tigers.

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The Storm will finish second and play the third-placed Bulldogs in the opening round of finals matches, regardless of Round 27 results, with the Broncos, Sharks, Warriors and Panthers all guaranteed to be in the final eight.

However, their finishing spots are yet to be decided, with all three teams vying for fourth place and a trip to Canberra in the first weekend of play-offs. The other two teams will finish fifth and sixth.

Finals match-ups

(1st) Raiders v (4th) Broncos/Sharks/Warriors
(2nd) Storm v (3rd) Bulldogs
(5th) Broncos/Sharks/Warriors v (8th) Panthers/Roosters/Dolphins
(6th) Broncos/Sharks/Warriors v (7th) Panthers/Roosters

The Broncos host the Storm in another blockbuster on Thursday night, while the Warriors travel to Manly on Friday night and the Sharks face the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

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The Sea Eagles are a mathematical chance of finishing eight but need to beat the Warriors while hoping the Roosters and Dolphins both lose and overcoming an 82-point differential.

With their positions now locked in, the Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs may rest players as Penrith did last Thursday night.

After losing to Canterbury, the Panthers are unable to finish any higher than seventh and need to create history if they are to win a fifth successive premiership.

In doing so, Penrith would not only become the most successful team since St George won 11 consecutive premierships between 1956 and 1966, but also the first team of the NRL era to win from the bottom half of the final eight.