Match Preview: Preliminary Final – Dolphins v Roosters

One win. One Grand Final spot on the line.

The Dolphins are one game away from a maiden Grand Final appearance as they prepare to face the Sydney Roosters in a blockbuster Preliminary Final at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.

With a packed house behind them and history within reach, the Dolphins will look to continue a record-breaking run on Friday night.

The Dolphins enter the contest chasing a ninth consecutive victory, which would extend the club record for the most wins in a row.

Suncorp Stadium has also become a fortress for the Dolphins, with the side winning its past eight matches at the venue this season.

The two sides have already met twice during the regular season, with the Dolphins claiming victory in both encounters.

There could also be individual history for Jamayne Isaako, who enters the Preliminary Final just two points shy of 300 for the season.

Should Isaako reach the milestone, he will become just the fourth player in rugby league history to score 300 points in a single season.

With a Grand Final berth on the line, a sold-out Suncorp Stadium and history within touching distance, everything is set for a huge night in Brisbane.

Team News

Dolphins

Head Coach Kristian Woolf has backed the same 17 that got the job done across the Tasman in the Qualifying Final.

Woolf has named an unchanged line-up for the Preliminary Final showdown, with Tevita Naufahu moving to the extended reserves after being part of the 19-man squad in Auckland.

Roosters

The Roosters welcome back halfback Sam Walker after several weeks on the sidelines through injury.

Daly Cherry-Evans shifts back to five-eighth, with Hugo Savala moving to the interchange and Toby Rodwell making way.

Egan Butcher has been named among the reserves after progressing through the concussion protocols.

Match-Up

Kurt Donoghoe v Connor Watson

This week’s match-up turns to two interchange weapons ready to ignite their teams when it matters most.

Kurt Donoghoe and Connor Watson bring toughness, intensity and energy through the middle, with both capable of changing the tempo of a contest from the bench.

For Donoghoe, Friday night will mark his 55th NRL appearance. The tough forward has built a reputation for rolling up his sleeves and getting through the hard work, averaging 28 tackles per game this season.

Across from him is the vastly experienced Watson, who brings 192 NRL appearances into the Preliminary Final. The Roosters utility has been just as busy defensively in 2026, averaging 26 tackles per game.

It shapes as experience against a rising hard man, with both players providing the spark and defensive effort their sides will need when the game opens up.

As fatigue sets in and the Preliminary Final reaches its decisive stages, the impact of Donoghoe and Watson from the interchange bench could prove crucial.