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Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL Round 7 Tips - Panthers Win But Phins To Cover

Ryan Tucker

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Last updated: Wed 15 Apr 2026 16:23

Ryan Tucker 15 Apr 2026

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Kick off is at 8:00 PM (AEST) on Friday, 17th April at TIO Stadium
Penrith likely to rebound after loss, but Dolphins have consistent form against them.
Betting tip: Dolphins to cover +15.5 and total score likely under 52.5 pts.
Player to watch: Dylan Edwards as a potential anytime and first tryscorer.

Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers

Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers, Round 7 2026 - Expert Prediction

Penrith are tipped to rebound from their shock loss to the Bulldogs last week to win this game but the large line on offer for the Dolphins fits the matchup trends and provides value for bettors.

Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers, Round 7 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
Dolphins Form Analysis
Penrith Panthers Form Analysis
Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers Team List & Team News
Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL 2026 Round 7 FAQ’s

The Panthers performance last week is not indicative of what that team is. They had a bad night, in a bad situation, against a team that needed the win more. Penrith completed at just 65% which is the largest marker of a team that just couldn’t put it together on the night.

On the season though, they have been elite. Not only has the attack been clicking with the team seemingly able to put on points at will, but the defence has been almost better than what we say through the four-peat era. Prior to the 32 pts to the Dogs, they had kept 4 teams to 10 points or less, those teams being Melbourne, Roosters, Sharks and Brisbane. Mind-blowing.

The Dolphins are a team with one of the highest variances of outcomes in the NRL. There is no telling which game will be low-scoring and tight or a high-scoring blowout. What has been consistent though is their performances against Penrith. They won the lone matchup last year, took them to Golden Point in 2024 and lost by just 10 in their first game in 2023.

Penrith will likely revert back to basics this week to ensure they can complete their sets and lockdown on defence. Without the creativity at the forefront the chances are they play a safer brand with lower scoring which allows the sneaky cover on the large line.

Take the Dolphins to cover with a +15.5 headstart and the Game Total to go Under 52.5 pts. Dylan Edwards as anytime and first tryscorer is the top player prop based on trends and value.

The Dolphins have covered in all 3 head to head games against Penrith since joining the NRL.
3 of the last 4 Dolphins games have gone Under while the Game Total Under is currently underrepresented on the season at 46%
Dylan Edwards has scored in 2 straight games and in 3 of 5 this season.
The Dolphins have allowed a try to opposing fullbacks in 4 of 5 games this season.

Head to Head

These two teams have met just once per year since the Dolphins joined the NRL. Penrith won the first two with the second going to Golden Point while the Dolphins won last season 30-12 at Suncorp.

2 of the 3 matchups have gone Under the Game Total while the Dolphins are 3-0 ATS.

Dolphins Form Analysis

The Dolphins are part of a 5 team backlog of teams at the bottom of the table with just 2 wins over the first 6 rounds. With the extra points from the Bye, they currently sit 12th but have the worst differential of the top 14 teams.

After two solid wins against the Titans and Sharks, the Dolphins have now lost back to back games before their bye to the Broncos and the Sea Eagles, conceding 78 pts combined in those two matches.

Not only has their defence not improved this season but their league leading attack last year has regressed. They have scored 18 pts or less in 3 of their 5 games and have at times looked stagnant attacking the opposition line.

Penrith Panthers Form Analysis

The Panthers were brought back down to Earth last weekend, losing for the first time this season, 32-16 against the Bulldogs. It was just the second time this year over the 6 games that Penrith have allowed more than 10 pts to their opponent.

It was very apparent the Bulldogs plan was to throw a surprise attack at Penrith and it worked with 2 tries in the first 10 minutes. The Panthers were forced to change their approach and even though they were down 16-12 at the half, a 65% completion rate is hard to turn into a winning position.

This performance was more of a situation rather than what Penrith are this year. We easily forget this is the NRL and on any given night, any team can beat another.

Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers Team List & Team News

Team News and Lists are in our dedicated Round 7 Team List Article.

Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL 2026 Round 7 FAQ’s

How to livestream Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL 2026 Round 7?

You can livestream the Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL 2026 Round 7 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL 2026 Round 7?

To buy tickets to the Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers NRL 2026 Round 7 game check the NRL website or the official Dolphins site.

Verdict

Dolphins v Penrith Panthers

Take the Dolphins to cover with a +15.5 headstart and the Game Total to go Under 52.5 pts. Dylan Edwards as anytime and first tryscorer is the top player prop based on trends and value.

Dolphins +15.5

Line

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