The Dolphins fight back from 24-0 down to triumph 40-32 in a remarkable Battle of Brisbane, securing a finals berth in the process.
In Saturday’s final match, the Rabbitohs are looking to consolidate a spot on the top eight against the Eels.
Earlier, the Melbourne Storm came back from 14-0 down to hammer Manly Warringah 42-20, all but ending the Sea Eagles’ finals hopes.
Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:41pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:41pm
Live updates: Rabbitohs vs EelsSat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:12pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:12pmSat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:12pm
It’s been one of those days…
Be very very careful Rabbits – bid first half leads haven’t ended well today…
– Mike
In one of those seasons…
In one of those sports…
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:12pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:12pm
24′ Eels force a goal line drop out
The Eels win it on the 20 metre line.
This is a great opportunity for the Eels to get something going in this game.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:10pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:10pm
22′ Eels come very close, feel aggrieved over a lack of a sin bin
Oh that’s a lovely catch from a Mitch Moses kick.
A lovely spin.
A lovely reach for the line…!
Does he get it down? HE’S VERY CLOSE YOU KNOW!
But did he lose it as he put it down! This is very close!
Jye Gray is there challenging in the air.
It looks like Gray is competing for the ball.
The Eels are going back to half way – but that’s not going to be given as a try.
Mitch Moses is fuming – and given Brian Kelly was sin binned earlier on, why on earth has Jye Gray not been sin binned too!?
Goodness me.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:05pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:05pm
19′ Souths score again!
Tries don’t get much softer than that.
Brandon Smith has already tried to go from dummy half in the last couple of minutes.
He gets in the same position again, this time out from under the posts, he looks up, but just runs towards the line and he scores.
It’s so easy – and so weak from the Eels.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:03pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:03pm
18′ Brandon Smith loses the ball, he challenges successfully
Souths are looking very impressive, and Matt Dufty breaks free from fullback to set up another attack.
Souths look to go to the left side – again – even though Kelly is back on the field.
But Smith tries to break through the line and he’s hauled down short.
The ball pops out and it’s ruled lost.
But was it?
He challenges and it’s stripped.
Penalty Souths.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:55pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:55pm
10′ Try Souths!
Too easy!
Too, too easy!
Cody Walker passes out side to Alex Johnston – how many times has that combination resulted in a try? It’s twice already tonight!
He has his 234th NRL try.
The kick is missed from the sideline to make it 14-0.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:53pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:53pm
10′ Mitch Moses misses an intercept
Nice idea from Mitch Moses, coming up very quickly into the line over on that vulnerable right defence.
But he can’t get a solid hand on it and he shells it.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:52pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:52pm
7′ The Rabbitohs have another!
(Getty Images)
Tevita Tatola!
It’s a lovely move down the right side, Matt Dufty releasing Jye Gray for the line break.
Souths move the ball left but it breaks down and Tallis Duncan had to take the tackle over on the left.
Cody Walker stabs a kick through onto the post padding and the rebound is gathered by Tevita Tatola.
The kick is over and it’s 10-0.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:47pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:47pm
3′ Alex Johnston scores!
Wow, that was so well worked by the Rabbitohs.
They went to the right side first, but they were always going to come back to the left, where Kelly would have been defending.
Johnston scores, his 23rd try of the season.
The kick is missed so it remains 4-0.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:44pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:44pm
2′ Kelly sin binned, Parramatta down to 12 inside two minutes!
The Rabbitohs are held up and Tallis Duncan is powered over the sideline.
Interesting…
Duncan is held up over the line on the left edge, and then he’s bundled into touch.
But was Brian Kelly making a tackle before Duncan got the ball there?
PROFESSIONAL FOUL!
Kelly is off for 10 minutes!
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:41pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:41pm
1′ We’re underway at Moore Park
This game is going to have to be good if it’s not to feel like a damp squib after that last match in Brisbane, let me tell you.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:40pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:40pm
Final welcome to country for the day
(Getty Images)
Aunty Barb Simms implores all the fans to enjoy the game tonight.
It’s been a big day of football already, and this could be the icing on the cake.
Parramatta’s Indigenous jersey absolutely spectacular, by the way, a genuinely superb design.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:39pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:39pm
Rabbitohs vs Eels
Here’s the team news for our last game of the day.
(NRL.com)Rabbitohs
Campbell Graham was ruled out yesterday with a calf injury, Jye Gray coming into the starting line up on the wing in his place.
Cameron Murray, David Fifita and Tallis Duncan all return to action.
Eels
Ryley Smith comes in for a first NRL appearance since Round 9, starting at hooker.
Tallyn Da Silva is starting on the bench.
Dylan Walker is being rested, with his move to Leeds imminent.
Saxon Pryke comes onto the bench for his sixth NRL game alongside potential debutant Jezaiah Funa-Iuta.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:32pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:32pm
FT: The Dolphins claim finals spot with stunning win
(Getty Images)
The Dolphins have sealed an NRL finals spot with a thrilling, end-to-end shoot out victory against the Brisbane Broncos.
The Broncos led 24-0 after a stunning opening 20 minutes in which they scored four rapid fire tries – Ezra Mam adding a fifth, and a personal hat-trick shortly before half time.
The reigning premiers had never lost a lead of 24-0, but then again, they’ve never played a team like this Dolphins side, in an atmosphere at a sold out Lang Park where the majority of the 50,000-plus fans were against them.
That, aside from a Reece Walsh penalty with 20 minutes remaining, was the last of the scoring though for Brisbane, as the Dolphins took charge of a frenetic encounter.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s 90-metre breakaway got the Dolphins on the board, before Connelly Lemuelu, Jamayne Isaako and Herbie Farnworth all scored before the half time break.
Lemuelu added another shortly after half time, with Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo sealing the come from behind victory.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:27pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:27pm
76′ Anderson knocks on, but Brisbane challenge
Grant Anderson was allowed to catch the ball from a high bomb.
He gets in behind Cobbo, catches the ball and it goes through his hands.
Does the ball go backwards? He’s facing his own try line.
And does he kick it?
Yes, he does.
But then, after all that, it hits his arm as he falls and knocks on.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:22pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:22pm
72′ THE DOLPHINS SCORE ANOTHER!
(Getty Images)
AND HAS THAT SEALED IT!?
The Broncos are in disarray!
The Dolphins gather a high kick, Max Plath at the heart of it on the right side.
The ball is passed out to the left side, a looping pass out over the top and Selwyn Cobbo is the man on the end of it to scoot over and score.
Lang Park erupts!
That has probably sealed victory.
The kick is missed and it remains 40-32.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:20pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:20pm
Yeah… I hear you…
Great leap from Hammer to score. Although, I’d love to trade in that aerial contest won by Hammer, Scot another aerial contest in the first Origin #stillnotoverit
– Davey
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:19pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:19pm
71′ Penalty Dolphins
Kodi Nikorima out of dummy half, too quick for Kotoni Staggs, who is not square.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:19pm
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 7:19pm
69′ THE DOLPHINS LEAD!
(Getty Images)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scores!
The kick went up, for the first time on the night the ball went up for both Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh to contest.
It’s the Dolphins fullback who gathers, he reaches out and slams the ball down to score over Walsh and it’s a brilliant try.
The move started with a loose pass from the Broncos at their end of the field, behind the left edge runners and picked up brilliantly by Jamayne Isaako on the run.
The Dolphins moved the ball up field so well and created the opportunity for themselves to lead for the first time tonight.
The kick is good – and it’s 36-32.
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