Rugby League

'Better than that': Dolphins draw new 'Battle' lines

Mar 26, 2026

Dolphins props Thomas Flegler (r) and Tom Gilbert (l) will give the side clout against Brisbane. -AAP Image

The Dolphins are a far improved team from the one that lost their last derby clash with Brisbane after leading by 14 points, coach Kristian Woolf has warned.

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The sides clash on Friday night in the "Battle of Brisbane" with the Dolphins buoyed by Thomas Flegler's recovery from a rib injury that saw him miss last week's 38-10 away victory over Cronulla.

Flegler and Dolphins co-captain Tom Gilbert were both unavailable due to injury the last time the sides met, while the Woolf-coached side also has more strike power after recruiting former Brisbane flyer Selwyn Cobbo.

Defensive clout has also been enhanced with the addition of England lock Morgan Knowles. Â

After 50 minutes the Dolphins led last year's round-24 clash 28-14 and appeared on track for victory. At that very moment the Broncos were ninth on the live NRL ladder and the Dolphins inside the top eight.

Brisbane, after a Reece Walsh 40/20, stormed home to win 38-28 and went on a magic run to win the title. The Dolphins got hammered 58-30 the following week by Manly and their finals hopes were gone.

Woolf said the Dolphins were now in a far better position to challenge the Broncos.

"We're a better team than that at the moment ... if you look at the team that we're putting out and how we've defended our line in particular the last couple of weeks," Woolf said.

"We got a lot of things to prove still, but I think we are a better team and we're heading in that direction."

The Broncos won six games after trailing by 10 points or more last year and were down 14-0 before beating Melbourne 18-14 last week.

"(The last derby) showed me just how dangerous the Broncos can be and when they're under pressure they're a team that can find moments, find plays and find points off the back of that," Woolf said.

"We're under no illusions as to how big the game is and how tough the game's going to be. At the same time, we're confident in what we can do."

The return of Flegler, a Queensland and Test prop, will only add to that confidence.

"He's a big in for us. It's a great occasion for him and I think he'll go out and enjoy it," Woolf said.

"He hasn't played much in the last two years and being out last week, I could see that he was itching to play and really keen to prove his availability. He is very much doing that."