Brisbane had the Battle of Brisbane all but by the throat at 24–0. Then the Dolphins ripped it away.
The Dolphins produced a staggering derby comeback to beat the Broncos 40–32 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 8 August, recovering from four tries down inside the opening 21 minutes before running over their cross-town rivals in the second half.
Ezra Mam had a hat-trick before halftime and the Broncos led 30–18 late in the opening half, only for Herbie Farnworth’s try on the stroke of the break to change the complexion of the contest. The Dolphins levelled at 30–30 after the restart and, despite Reece Walsh briefly restoring Brisbane’s lead from the tee, finished with the final 10 points.
Broncos Race to 24–0 Lead
There was little warning of what was coming when Brisbane tore into the derby.
Billy Walters’ 40/20 gave the Broncos an early attacking platform and Mam needed little invitation, breaking through for the opening try in the fourth minute. Walsh converted before Mam struck again three minutes later.
Deine Mariner made it three tries inside 14 minutes, and when Xavier Willison crossed in the 21st, Walsh’s fourth conversion had Brisbane sitting on a 24–0 lead.
The Dolphins had barely been allowed into the contest, but their response began with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
The fullback crossed in the 24th minute, Connelly Lemuelu followed in the 27th and Jamayne Isaako added another in the 33rd. In less than 10 minutes, the margin had been slashed from 24 points to six.
Mam then appeared to have steadied Brisbane, completing his hat-trick in the 35th minute to send the Broncos back out to 30–18.
It would be their last try of the match.
Farnworth broke through four minutes later and Isaako converted on halftime, leaving the Dolphins only six points behind at 30–24 despite Brisbane’s blistering start.
Brisbane’s Grip Slips Away
The Broncos had done most of the damage early, but the second half became a very different contest.
Brisbane’s errors and infringements began giving the Dolphins chances to attack. Lemuelu grabbed his second try in the 50th minute and Isaako’s conversion brought the scores level at 30–30.
Walsh’s penalty goal in the 59th minute nudged Brisbane back in front, 32–30, but the Broncos could not turn that advantage into another try.
The Dolphins did.
After an Isaiya Katoa bomb, Tabuai-Fidow struck for his second try in the 67th minute, putting the Dolphins ahead for the first time. Isaako’s conversion stretched the lead to 36–32 and suddenly Brisbane, after having been 24 points clear, were chasing the game.
There was still more to come.
Cobbo Seals the Comeback
Selwyn Cobbo crossed in the 71st minute to make it 40–32, completing a comeback that had looked scarcely imaginable during Brisbane’s opening onslaught.
Isaako missed the conversion, but an eight-point buffer proved enough.
The Broncos had opportunities during the closing minutes without finding a way through. A captain’s challenge was unsuccessful with less than five minutes remaining, while further handling errors prevented Brisbane from building the sustained pressure needed to rescue the match.
That was the sharp contrast between the two halves.
Brisbane had scored five tries by the 36th minute, Mam accounting for three of them, and Walsh was faultless with his five conversion attempts. Yet the Broncos did not cross the Dolphins’ line again after Mam completed his hat-trick.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, had recovered from 24–0 to trail by only six at halftime before winning the second half 16–2.
Tabuai-Fidow and Lemuelu finished with two tries each, Isaako scored one and kicked six conversions, while Farnworth’s late first-half try proved an important turning point.
For Brisbane, this was a Battle of Brisbane that got away in spectacular fashion. They had built what looked like a commanding lead in barely 20 minutes, only to watch it disappear as the Dolphins turned the derby on its head.
FULL TIME: Dolphins 40–32 Brisbane Broncos
HALF TIME: Dolphins 24–30 Brisbane Broncos
Competition: 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership, Round 23
Date: Saturday, 8 August 2026
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Dolphins tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2, Connelly Lemuelu 2, Jamayne Isaako, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo
Goals: Jamayne Isaako 6/7
Brisbane Broncos tries: Ezra Mam 3, Deine Mariner, Xavier Willison
Goals: Reece Walsh 5/5 conversions, 1/1 penalty goal
Published 8-August-2026
