Jason Ryles described the Dolphins as “a dangerous footy side” with one of the hottest backlines in the game.
Scorched Earth hot.
Suncorp has been a happy hunting ground for them, and they score long-range tries for fun. Almost sadistically.
The Dolphins set for their first ever finals appearance and have a lot to play for. To add some spice, they will look to honor Selwyn Cobbo's 100th game.
The good news for the Eels? Tonight, they have 19 warm bodies ready for a David v Goliath battle.
Welcome to Round 25.
Teams
Dolphins 4th vs Eels 13th, Suncorp Stadium, 8pm, Friday 21 August
Weather: Brisbane fine, stinky
TAB: $1.17 Dolphins, $5 Eels
Referees: Gerard Sutton (on-field), Ashley Klein (bunker)
Late Shuffle
For the Eels: Russell starts at fullback, pushing Twiddle to bench. Pryke starts, pushing Jack de Belin to bench.
For the Dolphins: Brian Pouniu starts in the second row, pushing Max Plath to the bench.
Dolphins: 1. 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 17. Brian Pouniu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles
Bench: 11. Max Plath 14. Ray Stone 15. Francis Molo 16. Felise Kaufusi 18. Brad Schneider 19. Jake Averillo
Players cut: 20. Tevita Naufahu 21. John Fineanganofo 22. Sam Elliott
Head Coach: Kristian Woolf
Eels: 18. Sean Russell 2. Brian Kelly 3. Will Penisini 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kitione Kautoga 15. Saxon Pryke
Bench: 1. Apa Twidle 13. Jack de Belin 14. Harrison Edwards 16. Teancum Brown 17. Jezaiah Funa-Luta 18. Sean Russell 19. Kelma Tuilagi
Players cut: 20. Araz Nanva 21. Ryda Talagi 22. Ryley Smith
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
Last week: The Dolphins accounted for Manly 22-0 while in the Eels crazy 32-30 win over the Cowboys, Kelly was up to his usual tricks.
By the Numbers
- The Dolphins have won the last two straight against the Eels.
- Both the Dolphins and Eels have won their last five Friday night games.
- Josh Addo-Carr finally broke his longest try-scoring drought last week.He has also scored 23 tries in 25 games at Suncorp Stadium.
- Jamayne Isaako has scored 10 tries in his last eight games at Suncorp.
- Milestone man Cobbo has scored 12 tries in his last nine games.
- Eels' leading try-scorer this year, Tallyn Da Silva, has scored four tries in his last three games.
Will we see a tryscoring bonanza?
The Bostock Lucky Charm Award
Whenever Jack Bostock has played this year, the Dolphins have won. That’s 11 straight wins.
Suncorp Graveyard
The Dolphins have been white-hot at Suncorp, winning 7-straight with an average winning score of 36-16. They are 8-2 at the venue and haven't lost there since Round 4.
The Eels, meanwhile, have won just three of their last nine at Suncorp. A 33% strike rate. And here's the really ugly part: All three wins came against the Broncos.Since 2021, the Eels haven't beaten anyone else at Suncorp.
Bottom Line
Yesterday, Jason Ryles talked about the Eels being on the right track, saying he could “see the forest through the trees”.
He also believes the Dolphins can offer the Eels “opportunities to score” if they do the hard work.
“Tackle well, complete well, and get your first three plays right.” Easier said than done.
The bookies don't give the Eels a chance.
Suncorp says the Dolphins. History agrees. The Dolphins are playing for history and looking to consolidate a top-four finish.
The Eels? They're playing for something different. Laying Future Foundations.But no one outside those four walls gives them a hope in hell.
Replies
If we dont eat 50, we've done well
42 - 28 ...sounds like the right amount of points.
Bet over 50.5 at $1.91 on Sportsbet
I'd love the Eels to win! But the Dolphins have too much strike power and a very good team with a good coach. So it would be good if the Eels if losing keep the deficit to a minimum
Eels by 8
This has the potential to be a horrible match.
The Eels (along with the Tigers and the Dragons) have been poor in defence (all 3 teams with over 600 points against them this season). The Dolphins have attack everywhere and the ability to score a LOT of tries.
Thankfully the Dolphins do have some "off" games in them, we have to hope this is one of them otherwise this could be a cricket score (a Bangladesh one, not an Aussie one).
Go the Eels! Odds were made to be defied.
I captained Herbie in my fantasy team.
I have your fear Cappy, the one type of side that Parra does not perform well against is one with pace all over the park.
Our worst game this season was against the Titans and Dolphins are like them PLUS.
Lets hope Dolphins have a shocker, 60% of the ball we will require
Nothing to fear here Pops even if they give us a hiding the season was done months ago for us.If it does happen and we get drummed it just shows us how far we have to come to get to there level.
I thought much the same last week on paper the Cows were better than us and the Dolphins are much the same.To me this as usual will be won in the middle of the park if they win there they'll put 50 on us.If we win in the middle it'll be competitive.
Dolphins are a well built well balanced side they aren't complete and have lapses that can keep you in games.What we don't want is a fast game we want to keep the tempo as slow as possible you give these guys momentum and it's ouch for almost anyone who plays them.
Go the mighty Eels I think an upset is on tonight let's go
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