Records fell at the Redcliffe Dolphins produced a huge 68-14 victory over the Penrith Panthers in the NRL State Championship decider.
Kicking off NRL grand final day, both sides boasted plenty of NRL talent and it promised to be an entertaining and free-flowing contest to kick start the day of football.
The Panthers were out to claim their third NRL State Championship title after past wins over the PNG Hunters in 2017 and Norths Devils in 2022.
Instead, it was Redcliffe who dominated from whistle to whistle in their second visit to NRL grand final day.
Player of the match Jake Averillo showed he was a cut above in a performance that is set to make Wests Tigers fans happy, with the utility joining the club from next season.
While there was plenty of NRL experience in the peninsular side (424 games to 87 for the Panthers), their unsung players also starred, with back Kyle Coghill and Joven Gyemore both getting doubles after late call ups during the finals series.
Follow the NRL State Championship action on NRL.com’s live blog.
Penrith Panthers v Redcliffe Dolphins at Accor Stadium
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Panthers v Dolphins – State Championship, 2026
Phintastic future: While Jake Averillo was a worth player of the match winner, there were strong performances from NRL Dolphins young guns Tevita Naufahu (233 run metres and a try) on the wing and centre / second rower Brian Pouniu scored a try as well as 176 run metres with three tackle breaks and 25 tackles.
Full-time: An emphatic 68-14 win for the Redcliffe Dolphins who ran in 12-3 for their victory. Wests Tigers bound utility back Jake Averillo scored a hat-trick in a dominant display playing five-eighth, ably supported in the halves by Josh James, who also slotted 10 from 12 conversions.
78th min: Kyle Coghill is denied a hat-trick by the Bunker, with a ball on the ground tapped up from Sam Elliott deemed to be a knock on. Score remains 68-14.
74th min: From that, the Dolphins make the most of getting the ball back. Back at their end of the field, they have a scrum and send it out to their right, with Fuller engaging defenders before passing out to Joven Gyemore who goes over for his double. James misses the conversion and it stays 68 -14.
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Joven Gyemore 2nd Try
73rd min: The Panthers thought they had pegged one back with big man Luron Patea going over under the posts – but it’s taken away after it was ruled there was unnecessary contact with the marker Josh James from Kalani Going. Score remains 64-14.
69th min: The Dolphins add another to their tally, Jude Saldanha on the board. Averillo again involved in the lead up with a clever little kick ahead after dummyhalf Brent Woolf choses to go the shortside. James converts again and it’s 64-14.
64th min: Another nice try from the Panthers, with Jirah Liddiard running from 40 metres out down the right sideline, evading the Dolphins chasers. The conversion attempt is waved away so it remains 58-14.
62nd min: An unsuccessful captain’s challenge from the Dolphins with Sam Elliott ruled to have knocked on when in sight of the try line.
58th min: A intercept from Kyle Coghill who runs all the way down field and away from chasers to get another for the Dolphins and a double for himself. James and his boot are true again and it’s 58-10 to the Queensland side.
54th min: A nice looking try to the Panthers who get one back with Zakauri Clarke chasing through on a grubber. He then steps up to convert his own try as well to bring the scores to 52-10.
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Zakauri Clarke Try
50th min: A successful captain’s challenge from the Panthers who retain the ball after a knock-on call was overturned.
47th min: Back-to-back to the Dolphins, with Trai Fuller in amongst the points. The Panthers tried a short kick-off and were unsuccessful, with the Redcliffe backs running amok. James converts and it’s a big 52-4 lead.
44th min: While a promising start for the Panthers to the half, the Dolphins were able to turn it around on a dime, with a loose ball picked up by Sam Elliott to gets the ball out of their danger zone. From there, a massive run downfield by Naufahu who then finds the man of the moment Jake Averillo who goes over for his hat-trick. James converts again and it’s 46-4.
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Jake Averillo 3rd Try
41st min: A high shot to start the second half and the Panthers get a back-to-back possession.
Half-time: A dominant 40-4 lead for the Redcliffe Dolphins at the break. They have been putting on an attacking show with seven tries to one. Jake Averillo has two tries and two try assists so far, while young gun Brian Pouniu, playing in the second row this week, has a try and run for 113 metres. The Dolphins have had 63 percent of the possession and completed at 95 percent. The Panthers have only completed at 61 percent with 8/13. Their fullback Jaxen Edgar however remains one to watch and has proved the most threatening.
36th min: One-way-traffic at the moment and Jake Averillo gets a double. He chips ahead for himself, pushes through the chasers, regathers and then scores. James converts again and it’s 40-4.
34th min: A much deserved try to Sam Elliott, who won player of the grand final last week for the Dolphins. Showing power at the line, he barges over after the Dolphins were able to roll up the field in the plays before, with the Panthers giving up a penalty to boot. James converts for 34-4.
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Brian Pouniu Try
29th min: And another try to the Dolphins – with Brian Pouniu able to touch it down for the easiest of four-pointers. James puts up a regulation kick, but the Panthers let it bounce and it goes into the in-goal for the rangy second rower to stroll in and put it down. James converts again and it’s 28-4.
26th min: The Dolphins go down the left side this time for their next try, with Tevita Naufahu finishing off the ball. The Queensland side keep the ball alive and find space down the left, with Averillo and Fuller involved in the lead-up once again. James converts this one for a 22-4 lead.
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Kyle Coghill Try
19th min: A great try from the Dolphins who run it on the last through Josh James who shapes to kick but instead passes inside to Averillo to run in through before finally kicking ahead where the ball beats everyone in the in-goal, except for Kyle Coghill who can get his hands to it an touch it down on the right side. James misses from the touchline so the score remains 16-4.
14th min: An error from the kick off gives the Panthers a chance and they pounce straight away. Classy fullback Jaxen Edgar shows his skills with a run out to the right side, breaking away from tacklers to reach out and score. Zakauri Clarke can’t convert and it’s 12-4 to the Dolphins.
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Jaxen Edgar Try
12th min: After setting up the first try down the right side with his speed, Joven Gyemore gets one for himself, sprinting away to score the second for his side. Some good work from the inside, including a no-look tap across from Fuller to set up his winger. James converts again for a 12-0 lead.
4th min: Just as he did on Hostplus Cup grand final day, Jake Averillo is the first on the board for the Dolphins and he gets the opening try of the day. It came after a great run down the right sideline by late call-up Joven Gyemore, before they send the ball back inside to the five-eighth. Joshua James converts for an early 6-0 lead.
Kick off: The Penrith Panthers kick off and give the Redcliffe Dolphins the first use of the ball.
Late Mail
Panthers: A few game-day changes, with Jakeb Vailalo to start at prop, moving Josh Ruston to the bench. Another switch sees Tuaomaliemavaitoelau Patea move up from reserves on to the bench, with Delahia Wigmore shifting to 18th player. Earlier in the week, with Izack Tago out of the side, Jirah Liddiard moved from the interchange bench to start on the wing. There is also a new five-eighth, with Keahn Skipps to partner with Kurt Falls and Haami Loza making way. Luron Patea has moved to lock, shifting captain Kalani Leuluai-Going to the second row.
Dolphins: No changes on game day, with Jack Johnson retained as 18th player. After missing the Hostplus Cup grand final through suspension, Trai Fuller comes in at fullback, shifting Kyle Coghill into the more familiar centre position. This sees Brian Pouniu move into the second row and Jaron Purcell to the bench. Earlier in the week, Joven Gyemore came on to the wing for Steven Numambo. Fellow NRL Dolphins regulars Felise Kaufusi, Jake Averillo and Tevita Naufahu have all been named to reprise their roles this week, while former Cronulla and South Sydney forward Patrice Siolo has been omitted from the squad after tearing his pec.
How they got here
Panthers
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How they got there: Panthers