Three of the NRL’s top six are in action today, kicking off with a battle of fifth versus sixth between the Dolphins and Cronulla Sharks. The 2026 Disappointment Bowl followed, featuring the Bulldogs and Raiders.
Both teams occupied top spot for large chunks of last season but currently sit well outside the finals this year. The day’s play wraps up with the third-placed Roosters hosting the Eels in Daniel Tupou’s 300th game.
Titans Lead Bulldogs at Half-Time
The Gold Coast Titans lead the Bulldogs 16-0 at half-time in Sydney. This strong performance included a scintillating pair of tries to Jaime Chapman.
Evania Isa’ako, née Pelite, also joined the scorers’ sheet, returning to the Titans’ side after a year off while pregnant. The Titans are currently ‘all over the Dogs’, who are completing at just 68 per cent.
The Coasters have had 58 per cent of possession at Homebush during the first half.
Dolphins Struggle Against Sharks
In the match between the Dolphins and Cronulla Sharks, Addin Fonua-Blake went on report for a high shot on Tevita Naufahu, ending the set. This gave the Dolphins one last play in Sharks territory, featuring excellent ball movement, but the defence corralled them and the clean sheet remained.
The usually slick attack of the Dolphins is looking ‘very out of sorts’. Despite missing Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jack Bostock, and Selwyn Cobbo, the side still has a lot of class out there.
However, they cannot get anything going even on the rare occasions when they actually hold the ball for a full set. A pass behind Tevita Naufahu saw the Sharks muscle up to launch him over the sideline.
The Dolphins’ defence is ‘in all sorts’ as Brad Schneider tried to shamelessly milk an obstruction penalty. Braydon Trindall remained unfazed and took the extra space granted to him.
Trindall then double-pumped and fired a glorious ball about 20 metres to Ronaldo Mulitalo to score. Later, Brad Schneider telegraphed a drop-under for Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, but Teig Wilton was ‘absolutely on his hammer’.
Finefeuiaki fumbled the ball with the Sharks back rower ‘up in his face’ as the pass hit him. Once again, the Sharks went straight on the attack as the Dolphins’ completion rate dropped under 60 per cent.
Another grubber in behind, this time by Will Kennedy, led to Sione Katoa storming through to ground it as he slid in. Trai Fuller accidentally collected Katoa in the face with his hip, but officials ruled against an eight-point try.
Jamayne Isaako caught a bomb 13 metres in from touch, but KL Iro, Teig Wilton, and Ronaldo Mulitalo ganged up on him and dragged him ‘all the way over the sideline’. This resulted in Sharks ball about 25 metres out.
Braydon Trindall rolled in a grubber, and the Dolphins appeared to have it covered through Trai Fuller and Jamayne Isaako.
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