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Redcliffe Dolphins went to Sydney as Queensland champions and left having rewritten the record book, crushing Penrith Panthers 68–14 in an extraordinary NRL State Championship performance at Accor Stadium.
A week after their stirring comeback to beat Sunshine Coast Falcons 28–18 for the Hostplus Cup premiership, there was no comeback required this time. Redcliffe tore into the NSW Cup premiers from the opening minutes, ran in 12 tries and were already 40–4 ahead by half-time.
By full-time, the numbers were historic. No team had previously scored 68 points in an NRL State Championship and none had won one by 54. Redcliffe had turned the annual showdown between Queensland and NSW’s premiers into the biggest rout the competition has seen.
Averillo Starts It — Then Takes Over
Jake Averillo had opened the scoring in Redcliffe’s Hostplus Cup Grand Final victory and needed only four minutes to do it again in Sydney.
Joven Gyemore, a late inclusion on the wing, tore down the right before Redcliffe brought the ball back inside for Averillo to finish. Gyemore became the scorer in the 12th minute after Trai Fuller helped create the space, with Josh James converting for 12–0.
Penrith briefly found a way into the contest after Redcliffe made an error from the restart. Fullback Jaxen Edgar took advantage, breaking through on the right to cut the margin to eight.
Redcliffe’s response was telling. Rather than retreat after conceding, they became even more adventurous.
On the last tackle in the 19th minute, James shaped to kick but instead found Averillo inside. Averillo eventually put boot to ball and Kyle Coghill won the race in-goal, restoring Redcliffe’s momentum and pushing the lead to 16–4.
From there, Penrith could not contain them.
Seven Tries Before the Break
Tevita Naufahu finished a sweeping movement down the left in the 26th minute before Penrith’s decision to let a James kick bounce proved costly three minutes later. It reached the in-goal and Brian Pouniu was waiting to touch down.
Then came Sam Elliott.
The forward who had won the Duncan Hall Medal in Redcliffe’s Hostplus Cup Grand Final victory powered over from close range in the 34th minute, pushing the score to 34–4.
Two minutes later, Averillo produced one of the afternoon’s defining plays. He chipped over the defence, fought his way through the chase, regathered and scored his second.
Redcliffe went to the sheds leading 40–4 after seven first-half tries. They had enjoyed 63 per cent of possession and completed at 95 per cent, while Penrith had managed only eight completions from 13 sets.
The championship was already slipping beyond Penrith’s reach.
Penrith Attack, Redcliffe Score
If Penrith were going to find a way back, the opening minutes after half-time offered their chance. A high tackle gave them consecutive possession and, briefly, Redcliffe were defending rather than attacking.
Within moments, the Dolphins were celebrating again.
Elliott collected a loose ball near his own end before Naufahu tore downfield and found Averillo in support. Averillo finished it to complete his hat-trick, turning what had looked like Penrith pressure into a 46–4 Redcliffe lead.
It was perhaps the clearest snapshot of the afternoon. One loose ball, one devastating counterattack, another six points.
Penrith then tried a short kick-off and failed to recover it. Redcliffe immediately punished them again, Fuller crossing in the 47th minute before James converted to make it 52–4.
Records Begin to Fall
Penrith finally interrupted the procession when Zakauri Clarke chased through a grubber and converted his own try, but Coghill answered spectacularly in the 58th minute.
He intercepted and raced downfield for his second try. James’s conversion made it 58–10.
Jirah Liddiard gave Penrith another moment with a 40-metre run down the right touchline, only for Redcliffe to come again. Averillo’s clever kick helped put Jude Saldanha across in the 69th minute before Gyemore completed his double five minutes later, Fuller drawing the defence and releasing his winger.
Coghill almost had a hat-trick in the dying minutes, but the Bunker ruled Elliott had knocked on in the lead-up.
By then, the record book had already been rewritten.
Redcliffe’s 68 points were the most scored in an NRL State Championship, while their 54-point margin was the competition’s biggest. They also joined Northern Pride in 2014, Ipswich Jets in 2015 and Norths Devils in 2024 as Queensland winners of the interstate championship.
Averillo’s Farewell Becomes a Hat-Trick
Averillo was named Player of the Match after a performance that produced three tries, three line breaks and two try assists in his final game for the Dolphins before joining Wests Tigers next season.
He had plenty of company.
Naufahu ran for 233 metres and scored a try, while Pouniu combined his four-pointer with 176 metres, three tackle breaks and 25 tackles. Gyemore’s late call-up ended with two tries and three line breaks, and James converted 10 of Redcliffe’s 12 tries.
Redcliffe finished with 1768 run metres, controlled 56 per cent of possession and forced 40 missed tackles from Penrith.
Seven days earlier at Kayo Stadium, they had trailed Sunshine Coast 18–10 at half-time and needed 18 unanswered second-half points to become Hostplus Cup premiers.
Sydney could hardly have been more different. This time Redcliffe seized the game before Penrith could settle into it and never loosened their grip.
Queensland champions one weekend. State champions the next.
And after 12 tries, 68 points and the biggest winning margin in NRL State Championship history, Redcliffe didn’t simply bring another trophy home to the peninsula. They brought home a record that may take some beating.
Match Details
NRL State Championship — Sunday, 4 October 2026
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Redcliffe Dolphins 68
Tries: Jake Averillo 3, Joven Gyemore 2, Kyle Coghill 2, Tevita Naufahu, Brian Pouniu, Sam Elliott, Trai Fuller, Jude Saldanha
Goals: Josh James 10/12
Penrith Panthers 14
Tries: Jaxen Edgar, Zakauri Clarke, Jirah Liddiard
Goals: Zakauri Clarke 1/3
Half-time: Redcliffe 40–4
Player of the Match: Jake Averillo
Published 4-October-2026
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