Alex Johnston moved to within one try of Ken Irvine’s all-time record as the Rabbitohs downed the Dolphins 40-30 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

With 211 tries to his name, Johnston heads to Allianz Stadium in Round 2 for a clash with arch-rivals the Roosters – the perfect stage for the 31-year-old to claim his slice of history.

New recruit David Fifita was superb for the Rabbitohs while Keaon Koloamatangi, Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker also stood tall.

The first 40-20 of Walker’s career proved a massive play with 22 minutes to play as the Dolphins had closed to within six points and had all the momentum.

In front of 20,114 fans at Suncorp it was Wayne Bennett’s men who dominated possession (59 per cent to 41 per cent) and completed 33 of 44 sets at 75 per cent.

Follow all the action from Round 1 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com’s live blog.

Dolphins v Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium


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Dolphins v Rabbitohs – Round 1, 2026


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Rabbitohs: Round 1


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Dolphins: Round 1

King Keaon: The Rabbitohs dominated the forward battle and Keaon Koloamatangi was in everything as he ran for 250 metres from 25 runs and got through 23 tackles.

Big Dave’s big day out: Looking to revive his career under Wayne Bennett, rampaging back-rower David Fifita played 72 minutes straight before being sin binned late in the match. Before getting an early shower Fifita had racked up 20 runs for 171 metres and three tackle breaks.

Full-time: The Rabbitohs win a high-scoring shootout to get their 2026 campaign off to the perfect start. 

80 min: The Dolphins receive a penalty after Latrell Mitchell is pinged for a high tackle. Jamayne Isaako bangs it over. Rabbitohs 40-30.

80 min: Morgan Knowles gets over the line but places the ball on a defender’s leg before being held up.


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Jamayne Isaako Try

78 min: Isaiya Katoa shows his class with an extravagant dummy and an overhead pass to Jamayne Isaako who scores wide out. Isaako adds the extras. Rabbitohs 40-28.

75 min: A chance for the Dolphins to grab a consolation try but Kulikefu Finefuiaki spills Isaiya Katoa’s pass and the Rabbitohs bring the ball out of their own end.

72 min: Souths get the penalty for Gilbert’s infringement. Latrell Mitchell shoots at goal and hits the post. Herbie Farnworth gathers the ball but is forced back in goal.

72 min: David Fifita continues a powerful game as he surges into the defence and attracts plenty of attention from Tom Gilbert who is sent to the sin bin. Fifita is also sent to the bin for his part in the melee. Both sides are down to 12 men.


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Latrell Mitchell 2nd Try

68 min: Jamayne Isaako comes up with a simple error inside his own red zone and the Rabbitohs pounce with the ball spun to Latrell Mitchell who crosses for a double. Mitchell converts his own try. Rabbitohs 40-22.

66 min: Brad Schneider delivers a forward pass out of dummy half to Tom Gilbert and the Dolphins squander an opportunity.


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Lachlan Hubner Try

64 min: Jayden Sullivan turns the ball inside to Lachlan Hubner who slips under a Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow tackle and reaches out to score with no defender’s hand on him. Rabbitohs 34-22.

61 min: Kodi Nikorima cleans up a Cody Walker grubber and is rolled into the in goal for a line dropout and the Bunnies reload.


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Walker hits the 40/20

58 min: Cody Walker comes up with a huge play with the first 40-20 of his career just as the Dolphins had all the momentum.

55 min: A cold drop by Lachlan Hubner has the Rabbitohs under pressure again and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow makes them pay with an explosive 45-metre burst as he leaves Jayden Sullivan and Jack Wighton in his wake. Game on! Jamayne Isaako converts. Rabbitohs 28-22.


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Herbie Farnworth Try

52 min: The Dolphins keep the ball alive and create space for Selwyn Cobbo who puts in a grubber which is knocked back by Lachlan Hubner before Herbie Farnworth trails through to score a crucial try. Jamayne Isaako converts. Rabbitohs 28-16.

50 min: A fumble in the play the ball by Lachlan Hubner allows the Dolphins to come out of their danger zone.

46 min: Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker both put grubber kicks in as Souths raid the line again but the Dolphins cover up. The line dropout brings a result for the Dolphins as Campbell Graham is unable to control the ball and it goes into touch.

44 min: Selwyn Cobbo and Jye Gray fly high to contest a bomb, the ball spills free to Connelly Lemuelu who goes over to score. Referee Peter Gough sends it upstairs as ‘no try’ and the bunker backs his call.

41 min: Jayden Sullivan is into the game at halfback with Ashton Ward gone for the day with an ankle injury.

AJ Watch: On the stroke of half-time the Bunnies went left and David Fifita put Alex Johnston over for his first try of the season and the 211th of his career, just one behind Ken Irvine’s record of 212.

Half-time: The Rabbitohs have hit the ground running in 2026 with Keaon Koloamatangi (19 runs for 220 metres) leading the way in the middle and Campbell Graham grabbing a double on the right wing. New signing David Fifita also impressed with 106 run metres and captain Cameron Murray had 12 runs for 111 metres.


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Alex Johnston Try

40 min: Alex Johnston moves one step closer to history after David Fifita powered his way through the line and sent a long pass out to the prolific winger who crosses for career try No.211. Rabbitohs 28-10.

38 min: The Rabbitohs threaten again but Herbie Farnworth comes up with a one-on-one steal off David Fifita.


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Jye Gray Try

36 min: The Bunnies go bang-bang as Peter Mamouzelos explodes out of dummy half and races 35 metres before finding Jye Gray in support and the fullback scoots away to score. Latrell Mitchell again converts. Rabbitohs 24-10.


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Campbell Graham 2nd Try

33 min: A freakish try for Campbell Graham who flies high to catch an Ashton Ward kick and gets a pass down which Morgan Knowles tries to control but Graham picks his pocket and races over to complete his double. Latrell Mitchell adds the extras. Rabbitohs 18-10.

29 min: A mistake in the play-the-ball by David Fifita as he tries to play it too quickly and loses control.


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Kulikefu Finefeuiaki Try

26 min: Isaiya Katoa goes to the line on the last tackle and puts Kulikefu Finefuiaki over for a try with a superb no-look pass and the Dolphins are back in it. Jamayne Isaako converts. Rabbitohs 12-10.

22 min: Cody Walker goes to the air, Latrell Mitchell contests, the ball hits his arm and he regathers and crosses the line. The try is ruled out for a knock on but the Bunnies receive a penalty for an escort by Morgan Knowles on Cameron Murray as he tried to chase the kick. Mitchell nails the penalty goal. Rabbitohs 12-4.

21 min: A chance for the Dolphins goes begging with a Connelly Lemuelu mistake early in the count.

20 min: A special piece of play from Cody Walker as he grubbers and regathers to dot down in the corner but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s desperation tackle is enough to drag Walker’s foot into touch. 

15 min: Livewire fullback Jye Gray splits the Dolphins and picks up Campbell Graham in support. The winger is reeled in by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow before the ball is spun to the left and Latrell Mitchell shows all his power to get over for his team’s second try and the 109th four-pointer of his career. Mitchell converts. Rabbitohs 10-4.


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Jake Averillo Try

10 min: The Dolphins hit back when Jake Averillo picks off a Cody Walker pass and races 90 metres to score, outpacing Jye Gray on the run to the line. Jamayne Isaako hits the upright with the conversion attempt. 4-all

6 min: Ashton Ward goes to the air but Selwyn Cobbo comes up with a fine catch and the Dolphins come away.


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Campbell Graham Try

3 min: Jye Gray and Jack Wighton handle on the inside before Campbell Graham pins his ears back and goes for the right-hand corner and gets it down despite the attention of two defenders. After a tough run with injury that’s Graham’s first try in the NRL since Round 24, 2023. Latrell Mitchell misses the conversion. Rabbitohs 4-0.

2 min: Isaiya Katoa finds space but Tom Flegler is pinged for obstruction and the Rabbitohs receive the game’s first penalty.

Late Mail

Dolphins: No late changes on game day after Kurt Donoghoe (hamstring) dropped out of the side on Saturday and was replaced at hooker by Brad Schneider. Former Maroons prop Tom Flegler plays his first NRL game since Round 5, 2024 after overcoming a long-term shoulder injury that nearly ended his career. Tom Gilbert is also back on deck after rupturing his pectoral in Round 11 last year. Prop Daniel Saifiti’s bid to return from a shoulder injury has fallen short, opening the door for Brent Woolf to potentially make his NRL debut in jumper No.19. 


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Hammer ready to go

Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs line up 1-19 with no late changes. Bronson Garlick is set to start at hooker after passing through the HIA protocols following a head knock in South Sydney’s final pre-season game. Garlick replaces Brandon Smith, who succumbed to a calf injury suffered at training. Ashton Ward is set to start at halfback and Jayden Sullivan is part of the six-man bench after battling a broken leg and infection in the off-season. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape was the last man to drop out of the squad 90 minutes before kick-off.

Numbers Game

The Dolphins have won four of their past six games at Suncorp Stadium.
The Rabbitohs won only three from 12 away from home in 2025.
The Dolphins were the No.1 attacking team in the NRL in 2025.
South Sydney winger Alex Johnston requires two tries to equal Ken Irvine’s premiership tryscoring record.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 16 tries in his last 10 games at Suncorp Stadium.

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