Gold Coast Titans Archives - Redcliffe Today

Dolphins Fight Back From 14 Down to Beat Titans Before Finals

The Dolphins stared down a 14-point hole on the Gold Coast and came roaring back, beating the Titans 24–20 to carry winning momentum into the club’s first NRL finals campaign.

Gold Coast had them 14–0 down inside 16 minutes and threatening to turn the final night of the regular season into an uncomfortable one. By half-time, though, the Dolphins had dragged themselves back to 14–12 before two quick tries after the break completed the turnaround.

It wasn’t the performance of a top-four side cruising towards September. What mattered was how the Dolphins responded once the Titans had put them under genuine pressure.

Gold Coast Lands the First Punches

Playing his 100th NRL game, Jayden Campbell crossed after six minutes before AJ Brimson added another in the 10th. Campbell converted both and then kicked a penalty goal to give the Titans a 14–0 advantage.

The Dolphins, with Kodi Nikorima, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Selwyn Cobbo all given the night off as Woolf took a cautious approach ahead of the finals, had made a mess of the opening quarter and were suddenly chasing the game.

Their opportunity arrived when Keano Kini was sin-binned in the 23rd minute, and they didn’t waste it. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossed less than two minutes later, Herbie Farnworth followed in the 28th and Jamayne Isaako converted both to cut the deficit to 14–12 at the break.

Twenty-Four Unanswered Points Change the Game

Rather than losing momentum at half-time, the Dolphins came out and finished the comeback almost immediately.

Ray Stone crossed in the 45th minute after Francis Molo broke the Gold Coast line, putting the visitors ahead for the first time. Two minutes later Tabuai-Fidow was through again and, with Isaako maintaining his perfect night from the tee, a 14-point deficit had become a 24–14 lead.

It was the Dolphins at their most dangerous. Once they found some rhythm, four tries arrived in a little over 20 minutes.

What followed was less convincing, with errors preventing them from putting Gold Coast away and giving the Titans enough possession to stay in the contest. Campbell eventually crossed for his second try in the 71st minute and converted to make it 24–20.

The final minutes became a scramble rather than a procession. Isaako was placed on report following a tripping penalty, while Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika was sin-binned and placed on report late as Gold Coast searched for a way to steal the match.

They couldn’t find it.

A Win With a Warning Attached

There is plenty for Kristian Woolf to take from the comeback, but probably just as much from the way the Dolphins got themselves into trouble.

Giving a Titans side that entered the round in 16th a 14-point start was an obvious concern, while the errors that followed the second-half surge allowed a game the Dolphins appeared to have taken over to remain alive until the closing minutes. September is unlikely to offer the same margin for recovery.

Still, Tabuai-Fidow’s double again showed how quickly this attack can change a match. Farnworth continued his late-season scoring form, while Isaako’s four conversions ultimately made the difference in a four-point result.

There was a little history attached to the win as well. The Dolphins had won each of their previous three matches against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium, so their perfect record there against Gold Coast now stands at four from four.

More significantly, the regular-season climb that began with their NRL debut in 2023 is complete. Finishes of 13th, 10th and ninth have now given way to a top-four season and the club’s first appearance in September.

The Dolphins won’t want to take Friday night’s opening 20 minutes with them. The ability to recover from it, however, might be worth packing.

Titans 20
Tries: Jayden Campbell 2, AJ Brimson
Goals: Jayden Campbell 3 conversions, 1 penalty goal

Dolphins 24
Tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2, Herbie Farnworth, Ray Stone
Goals: Jamayne Isaako 4 conversions

Half-time: Titans 14–12 Dolphins
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Round: 27, 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership

Published 4-September-2026

The Great Escape at Suncorp: How the Hammer Dragged the Dolphins Back from the Brink

For fifty minutes the Dolphins looked gone.

Fourteen points down, error-ridden and chasing the game, the Titans had them exactly where they wanted them.

Then Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow rose above the pack, snatched an Isaiya Katoa bomb out of the air and flipped the night at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dolphins escaped with an 18–14 comeback victory over the Gold Coast Titans, but the story of how they got there was far more chaotic.

Dolphins vs Titans Round 2 NRL Match Statistics

A scrappy opening favoured the Titans

The first half never really settled into rhythm.

Both sides struggled to build attacking fluency, but the Dolphins’ ball security was the bigger issue. By halftime they had made nine errors and completed just 14 of 23 sets, forcing themselves to defend far more than they attacked.

The Titans were far more composed. Their completion rate sat above 80 percent and they steadily built pressure through field position rather than spectacular attack.

Gold Coast opened the scoring in the 8th minute when Lachlan Ilias kicked a penalty goal after Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was collected high near the line.

The first try did not arrive until the 34th minute and it came directly from another Dolphins mistake. Connelly Lemuelu spilled the ball in attack, Chris Randall reacted quickest, Kurtis Morrin broke through the middle and Jojo Fifita finished the movement out wide.

Ilias converted and the Titans carried an 8–0 halftime lead into the sheds.

The defensive lapse that made it 14–0

The Dolphins needed a strong start to the second half but instead conceded again within minutes.

Titans forward Cooper Bai crossed for his first NRL try after running a switch play close to the line with dummy-half Sam Verrills. Dolphins defenders were slow to reset after the previous tackle and Bai slipped through a gap untouched.

When Ilias converted, the Titans had stretched the lead to 14–0 and the Dolphins suddenly looked short on answers.

At that stage Gold Coast had controlled the fundamentals of the match: better completion rate, stronger discipline and superior field position.

The moment that changed the game

The turning point arrived in the 52nd minute.

After forcing a line dropout through attacking pressure, the Titans attempted a short restart. Winger Phil Sami batted the ball backwards toward teammates but the bounce fell perfectly for Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who gathered the loose ball and ran about 15 metres to score.

The try reduced the margin to 14–6 and finally gave the Dolphins some momentum.

The Hammer ignites the comeback

With just over ten minutes remaining, the Dolphins finally produced the attacking speed they had been searching for all night.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow burst down the left edge on a long line break before the ball was shifted quickly across field. Kodi Nikorima helped create the overlap and Jake Averillo finished the movement in the right corner.

Jamayne Isaako’s difficult sideline conversion cut the deficit to 14–12, and the pressure suddenly shifted to the Titans.

Five minutes later the Dolphins struck again.

Isaiya Katoa launched a shallow attacking bomb toward the posts. Tabuai-Fidow timed his jump perfectly, climbing above Titans fullback Keano Kini to secure the ball and score beneath the posts.

Isaako converted and the Dolphins had their first lead of the night at 18–14.

From there they held their nerve through the closing minutes to secure the win.

Star power vs consistency

The match featured strong performances from both fullbacks.

Titans number one Keano Kini was influential throughout the contest and produced a crucial try-saving tackle on Jamayne Isaako earlier in the second half that kept the Dolphins scoreless at the time.

But the decisive moments belonged to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

His long break created the Averillo try and his aerial take from Katoa’s bomb produced the match-winning moment.

In a game where the Dolphins struggled with execution for long stretches, their fullback’s pace, timing and aerial ability ultimately proved the difference.

The verdict

For the Dolphins, the result delivers their first win of the 2026 season and a much-needed lift after a shaky start.

The performance itself will give the coaching staff plenty to analyse. Nine first-half errors, a 60 percent completion rate and defensive lapses that allowed easy points are not habits that will stand up against stronger opposition.

For the Titans, the loss will sting. They controlled large portions of the contest and led by two converted tries early in the second half but were unable to shut the game down when the Dolphins surged.

In rugby league, momentum can turn quickly.

On this night at Suncorp Stadium, the difference was a moment of class from the Dolphins’ fullback.

And when the pressure arrived late in the match, the Hammer struck.

Published 15-March-2026

Dolphins Forced to Relocate as Floods Disrupt NRL Season

Photo Credit: Dolphins NRL

The Dolphins have been forced to abandon their base and relocate to Newcastle after their training facilities were left without power in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, throwing their preparations for their clash against the Knights in disarray. More than 112,000 homes and businesses are still without power and key sporting venues are still unusable.

The Dolphins had planned to travel to Newcastle later in the week but were compelled to leave two days early on Monday evening, 10 March. Their home ground, Kayo Stadium, and their Redcliffe training base were both rendered unplayable after days of relentless rain left the facilities waterlogged. Head coach Kristian Woolf was forced to cancel Monday’s training session, further impacting their build-up to Round 2.

Squad Faces Challenges After Key Injuries and Disruptions

Adding to their troubles, the Dolphins will be without back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who failed his Head Injury Assessment (HIA) following a controversial incident against the Rabbitohs. The club also confirmed that Samoan international Connelly Lemuelu has suffered a fractured eye socket, ruling him out for up to four weeks. These setbacks test the depth of the squad, with key players already absent due to the relocation.

The crisis has also had an emotional toll, with three Dolphins players—Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls, and Kenny Bromwich—opting to withdraw from the Rabbitohs game to remain with their families amid the natural disaster. Team officials have been working closely with the NRL to manage the disruptions and locate alternative training grounds.

Titans Also Affected as Gold Coast Training Base Submerged

The Dolphins are not the only Queensland club affected by the extreme weather. The Gold Coast Titans were also forced to flee, relocating to Sydney after their training grounds were left two metres underwater. The Titans will now prepare for their Sunday night clash against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Belmore Oval away from home, adding another layer of difficulty to their season opener.

Despite the upheaval, Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said the players remain focused on delivering a strong performance for their flood-affected community. He acknowledged that while the conditions were far from ideal, the team was determined to push through and represent the region with pride.

Broncos Escape Major Damage but Adjust Training Schedule

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos avoided significant damage to their training facilities at Red Hill but were forced to adjust their training schedule. Players used the gym on Monday morning to allow the playing surface more time to dry. The club confirmed that they will fly to Canberra on Friday for their Saturday match as planned.

NRL Teams Rally as Queensland Battles Flooding

The widespread flooding has created major obstacles for Queensland’s NRL clubs, but the Dolphins and Titans are working around the clock to minimise disruptions and remain competitive.

Club officials have prioritised player welfare and safety, ensuring that families and staff are supported through the crisis.

With the Dolphins now settled in Newcastle and the Titans setting up in Sydney, both teams are adapting to their new surroundings and focusing on their upcoming matches despite the adversity. While logistical challenges and injuries have complicated preparations, players and coaches are committed to making the best of a difficult situation.

Published 12-March-2025