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Sydney Roosters vs Dolphins NRL Round 26 Tips & Prediction - Plenty of points & Phins to cover

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 27 Aug 2026 01:15

Andrew Hendrie 1 hour ago

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Sydney Roosters vs Dolphins predictions for Saturday's NRL R26 game
Dolphins rank last in first 20 minutes of games - Chooks can rack up early lead
Phins consistently recover & tipped to cover a +5.5 line with Over 46.5 points
The game is scheduled for kick off at 5.30pm AEST on Saturday August 29

Sydney Roosters vs Dolphins NRL Round 26 Tips & Prediction

The Dolphins have been guilty of slow starts throughout the season, but they can mount another comeback to cover a +5.5 line against the Roosters in what is predicted to be another entertaining and high-scoring affair between the teams on Saturday night at Allianz. Herbie Farnworth has a history of lifting against top four teams and is tipped for a try.

Sydney Roosters vs Dolphins NRL Round 26 Tips & Prediction
Roosters vs Dolphins Stats & Trends
Roosters vs Dolphins Head To Head
Sydney Roosters Form Analysis
Dolphins Form Analysis
Roosters vs Dolphins Team News

Absolutely massive game this one. The Roosters are still chasing the minor premiership despite last week's shock loss to the Tigers, but they could also drop out of the top four if they lose this game and next week against the Rabbitohs. The Dolphins meanwhile are back humming on a five-game winning streak as they look to cement their top four status ahead of the Sharks.

The Phins are arguably the best team to watch in the competition, but they need to fix a worrying trend that could haunt them come the finals. Incredibly, the Dolphins would be sitting bottom of the ladder if you stopped games after 20 minutes. That's right, they have a horrendous 5-15-2 (L-W-D) record after 20 minutes. Five wins in 22 games.

NRL 2026 Ladder 0-20 Minutes

Team	W-L-D
Panthers	16-5-1
Roosters	14-4-4
Knights	14-7-2
NZ Warriors	14-7-1
Sea Eagles	12-6-4
Rabbitohs	13-7-2
Raiders	12-9-2
Sharks	12-9-1
Bulldogs	7-10-5
Wests Tigers	8-11-3
Cowboys	8-12-2
Storm	6-11-5
Titans	6-11-5
Dragons	6-13-3
Eels	6-14-2
Broncos	5-13-4
Dolphins	5-15-2

So the first bet for this game is the Roosters to be winning after 20 minutes - they've scored the first try of the match in nine straight games, so they have no issues with slow starts (as you can see by their second position on this ladder) and it's just sustained and consistent data going against the Phins here.

But, Kristian Woolf's side are consistently mounting comebacks and they've been excellent against top four teams this season, blitzing the Roosters in R15 and edging the Warriors in R17, along with covering their +5.5 start in the other two.

Dolphins Record vs Top 4 in 2026

Round	Opponent	Result
Round 7	Panthers	Lost by 1
Round 8	Warriors	Lost by 2
Round 15	Roosters	Won by 38
Round 17	Warriors	Won by 2

With the Dolphins always in the mix against the elite this season, the +5.5 start appeals, while recent meetings between these teams have been extremely high-scoring, so have to play Over 46.5 total points as well. Herbie Farnworth has a good record against the Chooks and top four teams in general - he can score his 12th try of the season.

Roosters vs Dolphins Stats & Trends

Dolphins have won their last five games
Dolphins have covered a +5.5 line in all four games vs top four teams this season
Dolphins have a 3-0 record in Sydney this season
Dolphins rank last in the first 20 minutes of games this season
The last four meetings have seen 58+ total points
Herbie Farnworth has scored 1+ try in his last 10 games vs top four teams
Farnworth has scored 1+ try in two of his last three appearances vs Roosters

Roosters vs Dolphins Head To Head

The Roosters have dominated this H2H for the most part, winning four of the last five meetings, but it was the Phins who came away with a big 48-10 victory in the most-recent clash.

Year	Winner	Score	Venue
2026	Dolphins	48-10	Suncorp Stadium
2025	Sydney Roosters	64-12	Suncorp Stadium
2025	Sydney Roosters	36-26	Suncorp Stadium
2024	Sydney Roosters	40-34	HBF Park
2023	Sydney Roosters	30-14	Allianz Stadium

Sydney Roosters Form Analysis

The Panthers Hangover strikes again.

The Roosters were flying on an eight-match winning streak, the last of which was a brilliant 12-6 victory over the Panthers.

However, the level of effort and exertion - both mentally and physically - it takes to grind down the Panthers in a defensive-oriented game takes its toll.

It was the biggest upset of the season by odds and pre-match line, but it really shouldn't have come as too much of a shock that the Roosters were flat against the Tigers.

Trent Robinson's side left their run too late and they were ultimately pipped 25-24 by a Jock Madden field goal. It leaves the Chooks needing to win one of their final two games to confirm a top four spot.

Dolphins Form Analysis

Could the Phins be the first team to break the '50-point curse' and win the premiership in 2026?

Incredibly, the Dolphins have conceded 52 points to Manly and 66 to Cronulla this season, but they remain inside the top four heading into Round 26, winning 13 of their last 15 games.

Clearly the Phins are guilty of throwing in an absolutely abysmal performance here and there - and as touched upon earlier, their slow starts need an urgent fix - but when they get it right, their attack is the most electric in the competition and capable of beating anyone.

They've been far from perfect - and they needed to come from behind early again vs the Eels last week before running away 34-16 winners - but the Phins have momentum and no side will want to face them in the finals.

Roosters vs Dolphins Team News

James Tedesco has been named to return from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for three games, while Victor Radley is out with a head knock, with Taylor Losalu coming onto the bench.

Kristian Woolf has stuck solid with the same team that beat the Eels last week.

Roosters	Position	Dolphins
James Tedesco	Fullback	Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Billy Smith	Winger	Jamayne Isaako
Hugo Savala	Centre	Jack Bostock
Robert Toia	Centre	Herbie Farnworth
Mark Nawaqanitawase	Winger	Selwyn Cobbo
Daly Cherry-Evans	Five-Eighth	Kodi Nikorima
Sam Walker	Halfback	Isaiya Katoa
Naufahu Whyte	Prop	Thomas Flegler
Reece Robson	Hooker	Jeremy Marshall-King
Lindsay Collins	Prop	Tom Gilbert
Salesi Foketi	Second Row	Max Plath
Siua Wong	Second Row	Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Nat Butcher	Lock	Morgan Knowles
Connor Watson	Interchange	Ray Stone
Spencer Leniu	Interchange	Francis Molo
Egan Butcher	Interchange	Felise Kaufusi
Taylor Losalu	Interchange	Brian Pouniu
Cody Ramsey	Interchange	Bradley Schneider
Tommy Talau	Interchange	Jake Averillo

Verdict

Sydney Roosters v Dolphins

The Dolphins can overcome another slow start to cover a +5.5 line in a high-scoring game, with Herbie crossing for a meat pie.

Roosters

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