The Dolphins are coming off a bye while the Panthers are coming off their first defeat of the season as they take the NRL roadshow to Darwin on Friday night.
Kristian Woolf's men are sure to have done some soul-searching during their week off after losses to the Broncos and Sea Eagles in which they were outscored by a combined score of 78-30.
The Dolphins' ability to score points has never been in question but unless they can muscle up in defence they could be in for a very long night against a Panthers outfit looking to hit back from the loss to the Bulldogs.
A number of the Panthers' stars were off their game in the 32-16 defeat but they rarely string two bad games together so expect Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo to have their charges ready to fire.
The last time the sides met was Round 6, 2025 when the Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow lit up Suncorp Stadium with 256 metres and a hat-trick to lead the Woolf pack to a 30-12 win.
Match: Dolphins v Panthers
Round 7 -
home Team
Dolphins
12th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: TIO Stadium, Darwin
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Dolphins: Brad Schneider wears the No.14 jersey with Kurt Donoghoe sidelined. Oryn Keeley is the new man on the bench. No other changes to the team beaten heavily by the Sea Eagles before the bye.
Panthers: Premiership-winning centre Izack Tago will play his first NRL game of the season and the 100th of his career as he comes in for the suspended Casey McLean. The absence of star back-rower Liam Martin (knee) sees Luke Garner join the starting side and Kalani Going added to the bench.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
-
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake AverilloCentre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti
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Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Panthers is number 4 Izack Tago
-
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Selwyn CobboWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
-
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya KatoaHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Tom GilbertProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Max PlathHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
-
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Felise KaufusiProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
-
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Connelly Lemuelu2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
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2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Luke Garner
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Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Morgan KnowlesLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Bradley SchneiderInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Jack Cogger
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Thomas FleglerInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Ray StoneInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Kalani Going
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Francis MoloInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Phillips
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 18 Oryn KeeleyInterchange for Panthers is number 18 Sione Fonua
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 19 Trai FullerInterchange for Panthers is number 19 Freddy Lussick
Reserves
-
Reserve for Dolphins is number 20 Brian PouniuReserve for Panthers is number 20 Luron Patea
-
Reserve for Dolphins is number 21 Tevita NaufahuReserve for Panthers is number 21 Jack Cole
-
Reserve for Dolphins is number 22 Lewis SymondsReserve for Panthers is number 22 Jesse McLean
Dolphins Ins
- Brian Pouniu
- Lewis Symonds
- Oryn Keeley
- Tevita Naufahu
Panthers Ins
- Jack Cole
- Jesse McLean
- Kalani Going
- Luron Patea
- Sione Fonua
Dolphins Outs
- Kurt Donoghoe
Panthers Ins
- Casey McLean
- Liam Martin
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored six tries in three games against the Panthers.
- Panthers prop Moses Leota has scored a try in all three games against the Dolphins.
- Dolphins centre Jake Averillo has scored seven tries in his last six NRL games.
- Panthers centre Izack Tago will make his 100th NRL appearance.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako requires three points for 800 points for the club.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
