We kick off Round 12 with a pivotal contest between last year’s minor premiers and a Dolphins outfit riding the crest of a wave with three wins on the bounce.
The Raiders find themselves in unfamiliar territory sitting 12th on the ladder and their GIO Stadium fortress has been breached three times in 2026 by the Bulldogs, Sharks and Panthers.
Both sides get a chance to show off their depth with big-name players away on Origin duty including Raiders Hudson Young and Ethan Strange and Dolphins quartet Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Max Plath and Thomas Flegler.
An intriguing contest to kick off Round 12 and you can follow all the action on NRL.com’s live blog.
Raiders v Dolphins at GIO Stadium
Kick-off: We are back for the second half with this contest evenly poised at the midway point. The Dolphins looked to be cruising before Savelio Tamale crossed in the final play of the first half to cut the gap to just six. Points were flowing throughout the opening 40 and expect that to continue as fatigue grows and the game opens up. Raiders 16 – Dolphins 22.
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Savelio Tamale Try
Half-time: A crucial moment on the stroke of half-time for the Raiders as Savelio Tamale scores in the final play of the half. The winger had plenty of work to do when he got the ball on the left edge and he did well to step past multiple Dolphins defenders and find his way to the try line. It’s a one-possession game at the break. Raiders 16 – Dolphins 22.
38th minute: The Dolphins have lodged another Captain’s Challenge after Jamayne Isaako tapped a kick dead. The visitors argued Savelio Tamale had made a little knock on in the contest for the bomb but the Bunker rules otherwise. Big chance for the Raiders to strike back before the break. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 22.
35th minute: The Dolphins have lodged a Captain’s Challenge after Ray Stone was ruled to have dropped the ball in a tackle. There was a hand on the ball, however, with the Bunker ruling Tom Starling stripped it out. It’s a big moment, instead of a Raiders scrum in attacking territory, it’s a Dolphins penalty and another chance to go on the attack. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 22.
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Ray Stone Try
34th minute: The Dolphins have their fourth, Ray Stone running an excellent support line to finish off a Connelly Lemuelu break. Isaiya Katoa laid on the line break with a deft short ball and the visitors have created some breathing room on the scoreboard. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 22.
30th minute: A big set of six coming up for the Dolphins as they look to kick clear before half-time. Isaiya Katoa forced another line dropout, with the Raiders to needing to defend their try-line. We do have a brief stoppage after Morgan Smithies fell awkwardly in a tackle but he’s back on his feet and will play on. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 16.
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Jamayne Isaako Try
25th minute: The Dolphins have their first lead of the night after Jamayne Isaako scores in the corner. An error by Savelio Tamale handed the visitors an attacking opportunity and Isaiya Katoa ensured they would capitalise by orchestrating another four-pointer. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 16.
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Morgan Knowles Try
22nd minute: The points keep flowing at GIO Stadium with the Dolphins hitting straight back to level the scores. Felise Kaufusi ran a hard line to draw in multiple Raiders defenders before producing a slick offload for Morgan Knowles to score his first try in the NRL. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 12.
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Corey Horsburgh Try
15th minute: Bombs continue to play havoc with the back three from both teams and Corey Horsburgh has one of the more unusual tries we’ll see all year. Trai Fuller is unable to catch a kick, the ball bounces over everyone’s headed, then bounces on to the cross bar twice and eventually into Horsburgh’s hands. The forward simply had to secure possession and fall over the line. Raiders 12 – Dolphins 6.
12th minute: We’re off to the Bunker with Jack Bostock claiming the Dolphins’ second try. The centre flew through the air to outleap Savelio Tamale and come away with the ball before racing to the corner. Kaeo Weekes came across in cover defence and manage to force Bostock into touch before he grounded the ball. Raiders 6 – Dolphins 6.
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Tevita Naufahu Try
9th minute: The Dolphins have their first attacking set of six and they have their first try of the game. Isaiya Katoa led a left-side shift, Brad Schneider delivered an excellent pass and Tevita Naufahu scored in the corner. The attacking chance came after the Raiders failed to clean up a bomb, with the visitors quickly capitalising on the error. Raiders 6 – Dolphins 6.
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Jed Stuart Try
3rd minute: It’s a dream start for the home team, with late replacement Jed Stuart scoring the opening points of the game. Daine Laurie sliced straight through the Dolphins defence before linking up with Stuart for a simple try. The 24-year-old is playing on the right wing and Xavier Savage has moved into right centre after Seb Kris picked up an injury in the warm up. Raiders 6 – Dolphins 0.
Kick-off: The Raiders have been forced into a late change after Seb Kris went down in the warm-up with a quad injury. Jed Stuart comes into the starting side and Coby Black on to the six-man bench as a result. Canberra hope it doesn’t derail their start to the contest as they look to hit the ground running following last week’s bye. The Dolphins are missing some of their biggest stars due to Origin duties but their absence provides a chance for a host of young guns to step up. Raiders 0 – Dolphins 0.
Stat Attack
The Raiders have won three of their last four games against the Dolphins.
The Dolphins have conceded 12 points or less in their last three games.
Raiders captain Joseph Tapine will play his 100th game at GIO Stadium.
Dolphins centre Jack Bostock has scored four tries in his last three games.
Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes has scored five tries in his last five games.
Late Mail
Raiders: Owen Pattie is set to start at hooker for the first time this year in the only change to Ricky Stuart’s squad on game day. Tom Starling reverts to the interchange as a result. Back-rower Jordan Uta makes his NRL debut off the bench but young playmaker Coby Black dropped out of the extended squad in Thursday’s 90-minute update. Xavier Savage makes his return from an ankle injury, while Zac Hosking is back after missing Rounds 9 and 10 with concussion. The versatile Daine Laurie has been named at five-eighth with Ethan Strange in Blues camp.
Dolphins: 18-year-old centre Brian Pouniu comes into the side for his NRL debut after star centre Herbie Farnworth was ruled out due to hamstring tightness. John Fineanganofo comes on to the six-man bench as a result. “Unfortunately Herbie has been a little bit tight through the hamstring through the week… just a smart decision not to play him. We’d love to have him out there but if we throw him out there and then miss him for six or eight weeks that will hurt us more than one game,” coach Kristian Woolf said on Wednesday. Brad Schneider starts at five-eighth for the third time this season with Kodi Nikorima nursing a hamstring injury. Trai Fuller takes over at fullback in his third NRL game of the season with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in Maroons camp. Francis Molo has recovered from an ankle injury and slots into the front row with Thomas Flegler also on Origin duty.