Round 26 of the 2024 NRL Season continues on Saturday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium when the Redcliffe Dolphins play host to the Brisbane Broncos in what shapes up to be a ripping local derby, with the loser of this game officially out of the running to play finals footy.
Given the current form of both teams, it should be an intriguing match and we have you covered with a full NRL betting preview for free below.
And don't forget to head to our NRL tips page for previews of all of the NRL and NRLW matches this weekend!
NRL Round 26 Preview & Betting Tips
Dolphins vs Brisbane Broncos
Suncorp Stadium – Saturday 31st August – 5:30pm (AEST)
You'd have to mark the season from the Dolphins as disappointing if they don't make Finals. Halfway through the year, they were in fourth spot and looking a lock to play Finals, and in the mix to finish top four. But since Wayne Bennett was announced as coach of the Bunnies from next year, their form has been awful, winning just three of their past 12 and are now in a position where they are likely to miss Finals. The big ins, potentially, are Tevita Pangai Junior and Jeremy Marshall-King, both potentially returning from injury, and no doubt that the side has badly missed the craftiness of Marshall-King, despite the emergence of Max Plath. They haven't beaten the Broncos yet since their inception but have stuck it to them each time, so they will go in with a great chance to end the year of the 2023 Grand Finalists.
If you say missing the Finals for the Dolphins is disappointing, then what do you say about the Broncos? They had the Grand Final in their keeping last year but somehow lost the game and since then, they have gone backwards and have been the biggest disappointment of 2024. They are saying injuries and the lack of pre-season, the trip to Vegas etc etc as excuses, but for the most part, they have been poor and were lucky that they took on Parramatta last week, because if it was any other team, they get beat comfortably. So the jury is well and truly out on them despite the return of Payne Haas from injury.
For me, the price gap between these teams is far too great, with the big query being Jeremy Marshall-King. I think if he plays, then the Dolphins are a great bet. Even if he doesn't play, I think they are a bet, especially at nearly $3.
Dolphins +7.5
$1.92 (2 units)
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Dolphins + 7.5: As stated above, I do think the Dolphins are value, and the 7.5 start looks more than enticing. I don't see Brisbane blowing them away if they do win. Anticipating a close score line.
Over 52.5 Total Match Points: The weather forecast all week for Brisbane has been fine and hot, so Suncorp should be a very firm deck and with that, I think points will be scored, both due to the dry conditions and the fact that it is warm, fatigue will come into play.
SGM Odds: $3.80 (Boombet)
