NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Dolphins and Roosters go head-to-head in preliminary final

Dominic BrockUpdated September 25, 2026 — 7:55pm,first published 7:16pmKey PostsYour say: Dolphins or Roosters?By Latest Posts7.55pmRoosters winning territorial battle earlyBy A good defensive set from the Roosters means Isaiya Katoa’s last tackle kick can’t even reach the Roosters’ 20-metre line, and the halfback appears a little hurt by a tackle in that opening set.The Roosters meanwhile march into the Dolphins’ half a couple of tackle into their set, but Sam Walker’s last-tackle bomb is taken easily by Jamayne Isaako in the in-goal, and the hosts earn a seven-tackle set.Dolphins 0, Roosters 0 after three minutes7.52pmKick-off time: Dolphins get us startedBy The Roosters take the field and now the trumpets are sounding before the Dolphins join them at a packed Suncorp Stadium.It’s a huge night for what is still a very young NRL club, favourites to reach the grand final in just their fourth season in the competition. How valuable will their week off prove to be?But the Roosters have a ton of talent and experience and are very capable of spoiling the big night for the home side tonight.The Dolphins kick off, and Naufahu Whyte brings the ball back with the first hit-up of the night.Dolphins 0, Roosters 0 after one minute7.49pmTale of the tape: How Dolphins and Roosters stack up in 2026By We’re just minutes away from kick-off now. Here is how these teams compare this season.7.46pmPhotos: Warm-up time ahead of grand final qualifierBy Roosters five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans.Getty ImagesDolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.Getty ImagesRoosters halfback Sam Walker.Getty ImagesDolphins centre Jack Bostock.Getty ImagesRoosters prop Lindsay Collins.Getty Images7.44pmWayne Bennett and the big call that turned Panthers’ back-up into Dolphins superstarBy Nick WrightIf not for a bold gamble to venture into the unknown and away from rugby league’s most dominant juggernaut, Isaiya Katoa’s meteoric rise may never have eventuated.Quietly biding his time in the Penrith Panthers’ lower ranks, but without much of an opportunity in sight owing to Nathan Cleary’s presence, the halfback faced a dilemma when he received a call from Wayne Bennett.Would he stay at the NRL’s most successful club or make the leap to the Dolphins, where it could be years before experiencing success?Katoa’s choice to go with the latter has earmarked him as a future State of Origin superstar, and has spearheaded the Redcliffe-based outfit into their first preliminary final on Friday night against the Sydney Roosters.7.40pmArtie Beetson wanted a Dolphins-Roosters grand final. This is the next best thingBy Brad FittlerArthur Beetson will always be regarded as a legend of the Roosters and Dolphins.Beetson didn’t just say he’d like to see the Dolphins and Roosters play in the NRL one day – which was the line repeated when the Queensland side entered the competition in 2023. What Artie actually wrote was: “Maybe one day in my lifetime there can be a Roosters-Redcliffe grand final. I’d enjoy that!”Sadly, the big fella is no longer with us. But he’s got the next best thing to that grand final, and I’ve got no doubt he’d enjoy the way these two sides play – all power and skill.For me, and so many people in rugby league, Artie was larger than life, but just such a cheerful, warm person with such lovely manners. I think this especially surprised people when they met him.7.37pmKatoa v Walker: How Andrew Johns breaks down the battle of the halfbacksBy Andrew Johns7.35pmRoy Masters: Why prelim finals are tougher than grand final weekBy Roy MastersPreliminary finals are to a grand final what a nervy, fumbling first date is to a comfy, content wedding anniversary. It’s edgy expectation versus partial fulfilment.The penultimate weekend of a season, where four teams fight for the right to advance to the Big Dance, often has players and coaches nervous and uptight. They are aware that a tiny slip-up could end their season days short of what could have been a premiership.Grand final teams tend to be more relaxed, some clubs simply secure at having already achieved their place in history.It follows that a defeat in the preliminary final can be more devastating than losing a grand final. 7.32pmDolphins v Roosters team listsBy Dolphins1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Tom Gilbert 11. Max Plath 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles.Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Francis Molo 17. Connelly Lemuelu 19. Brad Schneider 20. Jake AverilloSydney Roosters1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley.Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Angus Crichton 16. Nat Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Hugo Savala 19. Cody Ramsey7.31pmWalker is fit and ready in Roosters return: RobinsonBy Roosters coach Trent Robinson says there were no hesitations to naming Sam Walker in his side tonight. It’s his first game back from a syndesmosis injury suffered 24 days ago.“No, it was just making sure he was physically right to go, and he showed that in a session last Saturday when we were playing, with the reserves, and he showed it all week at training,” Robinson tells Channel Nine.“Everyone works really hard, all the staff and players, to be at this point.”1 of 2