Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 5 clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Dolphins.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs The Dolphins
Venue: CBUS Super Stadium
Date: Saturday April 5, 5:30pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Sean Mullany 15. David Fifita 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Brock Gray 18. Arama Hau 19. Tom Weaver 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Josiah Pahulu
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Max Plath 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Kenny Bromwich 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Josh Kerr 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Max Feagai 22. Junior Tupou
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Bunker: Adam Gee
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Saturday sees another all-Queensland clash featuring the Dolphins as they head to the Gold Coast to save their season. Whilst that may sound a little dramatic this early in the season, the Dolphins are sitting on a 0-4 record, and no team has made the finals after five straight losses at the beginning of the season. As it stands, only two teams out of 14 have made the finals since 2013 with an 0-4 record.
Talking of four, the Gold Coast Titans are almost in the top four as it stands after round 4, and a win over the Dolphins should ensure top four status as two top four teams play each other this weekend. A free two points from the bye helps, but consecutive wins over the Knights and Roosters showed they are capable of mixing it with finalists from 2024.
The Titans’ theory of playing as many fullbacks across many positions seems to be paying off right now, with their average points scored per game sitting at 26.7, which is fourth best in 2025. The defence has tightened up too in recent weeks – after conceding 40 points in round 1 to the Bulldogs. Even when they lose a fullback like Keano Kini, along comes Jaylan De Groot who did an admirable job in just his second NRL game last weekend.
Very few would have the Titans flying this high in 2025, and although it is early days for the season, a win here plus a favourable draw which sees them play their next top four from last season in round 13 after another bye, could see the Titans in rare air by the halfway point of the season. Having their leader Tino Fa’asuamaleaui back, injury-free and firing is a massive plus for their season and a chance at finals for a fourth time.
The Gold Coast have named Sean Mullany in the number 14 role for this weekend, giving the current Tweed Seagulls and former Mackay Cutters player an NRL debut. He sits on the bench with David Fifita, which is a lot of talent and salary cap going being under-utilised.
How the Dolphins wish they could call upon the impact of someone like Fifita from the bench. Not that there’s anything too wrong with the dedicated, hard-working bench the Dolphins have named, but you wouldn’t call any of them an impact player. Except the players Ray Stone chops down during his stint on the field could argue different.
And impact is what is failing the Dolphins right now. They compete, as they always have since their debut in 2023, but they lack something late in the set to get the points they need to win games. One of their main inspirational players, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, has looked below-par this season so far, and there has been flashes from their halves but not enough. Far too many high bombs on the last tackle and too few tries being scored. For all the talk of lack of impact, Herbie Farnworth has been one of the Dolphins’ best, and up there with the NRL’s best for several key stats.
Other Dolphins team news sees Connelly Lemuelu return from injury to replace the suspended captain Tom Gilbert and Max Plath returning to his best position of lock. Perhaps that could unlock the Dolphins’ spark.
The H2H Stats are pretty even. The Gold Coast have won their last four home games on a Saturday, yet have won just three of 12 home games on a Saturday vs Qld sides. The Dolphins have won just three of 11 away games on a Saturday, but then they are undefeated against the Titans on the Gold Coast. In fact, the Dolphins have won four from four away to other Queensland sides that don’t start with B. That’s got to mean something for Dolphins fans. It needs to.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Dolphins by 10 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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