As it happened: Broncos spoil Papa's party; Five straight for Phins

Media conference

Life of Brian: In just his second career game, young gun Brian Pouniu came into the starting side and let no-one down with a powerhouse display. The 18-year-old made 148 metres from 14 runs and had six tackle breaks while also coming up with 39 tackles.

Full-time: The Dolphins make it five wins on the bounce to join the Warriors on 36 competition points and one step closer to a top-four finish and a double chance in their first ever finals series.

79 min: Herbie Farnworth caps a sensational night with an 85-metre try after swooping on an Eels error and going the distance to ice the Dolphins' victory. Jamayne Isaako bangs over the conversion. Dolphins 34-16

74 min: Apa Twidle tries to throw a long ball for Josh Addo-Carr but the winger had come infield and the pass goes to no-one. Another opportunity squandered by the Eels.

73 min: Tom Flegler is placed on report and penalised for a hip drop tackle on Jack Williams. Eels go on the attack from 20m out.

71 min: Mitch Moses sneaks down a short side and chips over the top. The ball can't be controlled by Kodi Nikorima and spills to Kelma Tuilagi who gets it down for a try. Moses adds the extras. Dolphins 28-16

68 min: The Eels get the ball to the left edge but Sean Russell's tap-on for Josh Addo-Carr is a poor one and rolls harmlessly into touch.

65 min: Slick work by Ronald Volkman and Mitch Moses frees up Apa Twidle but his pass goes to ground as the defence closes in and he can't get a pass on to the winger.

64 min: Felise Kaufusi looks to slip an offload in traffic but loses the ball. The Dolphins challenge the knock-on call but come up empty. Eels scrum on halfway.

62 min: Selwyn Cobbo finds space down the left and gets a kick back inside but Apa Twidle is there to clean it up and gets a penalty for crowding in the play-the-ball.

60 min: The Eels are stretched and give up a six-again on their goal line before the ball goes to Max Plath and he is too strong for Jack Williams on a 10m run to the line for a try that puts the game to bed. Jamayne Isaako converts. Dolphins 28-10

58 min: Kodi Nikorima's grubber is cleaned up in-goal by Apa Twidle. The Eels go short with the dropout but the Dolphins come up with the ball.

55 min: Ronald Volkman's grubber is played at by Isaiya Katoa and rebounds back to Volkman who knocks it on as he tries to scoop it up.

53 min: A powerful run by Jack Williams comes to an end with Max Plath stealing the ball one-on-one but Plath loses the ball straight away and the Eels reload.

48 min: Sublime skills from Isaiya Katoa and Jack Bostock in the lead-up to another try for Jamayne Isaako. That's 21 tries for the season for Isaako and it came off a special pass from Bostock who sucked in two defenders and put it on a platter for his winger. Isaako converts. Dolphins 22-10

45 min: Mitch Moses eases a kick into the corner and the referee rules a knock on by Selwyn Cobbo. The Dolphins challenge and come up trumps as the replays show Brian Kelly had made the error in the contest.

44 min: A penalty against Jeremy Marshall-King late in the count for an arm bar as he bends back the arm of debutant Jezaiah Funa. Eels go inside the red zone.

Herbie's a handful: There are few better movers in the NRL than Herbie Farnworth and the ad-lib footy the Dolphins love to play suits him to a tee. Farnworth made 121 metres from 14 runs in the first half and came up with four tackle breaks and a try assist to go with a four-pointer of his own.

Half-time: Plenty of entertaining footy for the fans at Suncorp Stadium as the Eels match motors with the Phins for much of the opening 40 to trail by just six points. The Dolphins had 55 per cent of possession and completed 16 of 20 sets while the Eels completed 14 of 17.

40 min: More free-flowing footy from the Dolphins but the final pass from Herbie Farnworth floats forward to Selwyn Cobbo and that's half-time.

39 min: Harrison Edwards is ruled to have lost the ball as he tries to play it. The Eels challenge and win the challenge as replays show his hand never came off the ball.

36 min: Jack Bostock soars high to bring down a great catch and get a miracle offload for Jamayne Isaako who manages to get the ball down despite the efforts of Sean Russell to deny him. The ball looked to have come loose but the bunker rules Isaako had controlled it to the ground. Dolphins 16-10

33 min: Some brave goal-line defence by Mitch Moses to deny Selwyn Cobbo and then the Dolphins come up with an error through Francis Molo. Parra come out of trouble.

31 min: Brian Kelly comes up with an error in contact as the Eels look to come out of their own end.

29 min: The Dolphins with a razzle dazzle special as they go from right to left and Selwyn Cobbo finishes off a move that features Jamayne Isaako, Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kodi Nikorima, who throws the final pass for Cobbo to score. Isaako converts. Dolphins 12-10

25 min: The Dolphins score straight off the scrum as Herbie Farnworth powers through a Mitch Moses tackle and crosses for his 10th try of the season. Jamayne Isaako converts. Eels 10-6

25 min: Isaiya Katoa scheming from close range and gets a grubber in which rebounds into an Eel and into a teammate for an accidental offside. Dolphins scrum 10m out.

20 min: The Eels have another after Will Penisini comes up with a gem of a pass as he goes to ground, sending Brian Kelly over in the corner. Mitch Moses can't convert. Eels 10-0

19 min: Herbie Farnworth with a bad drop coming out of his own end after Selwyn Cobbo had done a great job to field a kick and get back into the field of play.

18 min: Jack Bostock is penalised for a late tackle on Apa Twidle and the Eels reload.

15 min: A forward pass by Junior Paulo puts the Eels under pressure but the Dolphins come up with an error early in the count as Jack Bostock throws a loose offload. 

13 min: Isaiya Katoa grubbers into the in-goal and looks certain to score but Josh Addo-Carr shows great desperation to get back and knock the ball dead.

12 min: Will Penisini goes on report for a high shot on Herbie Farnworth and the Dolphins go on the attack.

7 min: Ronald Volkman jumps on the back of a quick play-the-ball by Kitione Kautoga and scoots over for a try from 10m out as the Eels strike first. Mitch Moses converts. Eels 6-0

6 min: A penalty against Jack Bostock for a high shot on Kitione Kautoga allows the Eels to go inside the red zone.

Eels blow: Jordan Samrani has suffered a groin injury in the warm-up and is out. Apa Twidle comes back into the starting side at fullback and Sean Russell goes to the centres.

Late Mail

Dolphins: Late changes for Kristian Woolf with Max Plath going back to the bench and youngster Brian Pouniu coming into the starting side in just his second career game. Jake Averillo joins the bench as the Dolphins look to continue a seven-game winning streak in matches at Suncorp Stadium. 

Eels: Experienced outside back Sean Russell has been promoted to the starting side at fullback on the back a late cameo off the bench in the win over the Cowboys. Apa Twidle goes to the bench along with Jack de Belin as Saxon Pryke starts the game. Utility Dylan Walker suffered a wrist injury last week and faces at least one game out. 

Numbers Game

• The Dolphins have won their last seven games at Suncorp Stadium.
• Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 23 tries in 25 games at Suncorp Stadium.
• Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 10 tries in his last eight games at Suncorp.
• Eels hooker Tallyn Da Silva has scored four tries in his last three games.
• Dolphins winger Selwyn Cobbo will play his 100th NRL game.

 

Raiders v Broncos at GIO Stadium

Media conferences

Herculean Haas: Their season may be long gone but Payne Haas' standards never drop. With the game slipping away in the second half, Haas picked his team up and carried them to a stirring win. Haas broke 11 tackles and made 35 of his own while also running for 157 metres.

No Walsh, no worries: Stepping in at fullback with Reece Walsh injured, Hayze Perham was a standout for the Broncos with a try and five conversions to go with 130 run metres and three tackle breaks. 

Full-time: A stunning comeback win by the Broncos has spoiled Josh Papalii's party in Canberra. That's the end of the road for the Raiders in 2026 as the Broncos dig deep to come up with a 34-30 win.

80 min: The Raiders come up with a one-on-one strip to get a late chance at drawing level but Josiah Karapani comes up with a desperate play to deny Xavier Savage a try in the corner.

79 min: Ethan Sanders launches a wicked floating spiral kick and Hayze Perham comes up with a great take.

78 min: Ethan Strange beats several defenders and gets a grubber back inside for Kaeo Weekes to chase. Xavier Willison gets back to compete for the ball and takes possession. Weekes strips the ball from the Broncos prop and a knock on is called. Great desperation by Willison to get back and deny Weekes a try. Broncos come away.

74 min: Ben Hunt drifts to the right and picks up Hayze Perham who is too slick for Matt Timoko and gets over for a try that gives Brisbane the lead. The fullback converts his own try. Broncos 34-30

72 min: Payne Haas gets a pass away to Ben Hunt who can't control the pass and the Raiders have a scrum but Ethan Strange knocks on at first receiver. The pass from Tom Starling is too far out in front of Strange and he spills it.

67 min: The Broncos go bang-bang as Grant Anderson scores off a pinpoint crossfield kick from Ben Hunt who puts it on a dime for his winger to take the ball on the full. Hayze Perham knocks over the conversion. Raiders 30-28

65 min: Zac Hosking leaves the field with a hamstring injury.

64 min: The Broncos refuse to lie down and it's Payne Haas who takes a pass from Jack Gosiewski about 20m from the line and there's no stopping the big man as he powers to the line with Kaeo Weekes and Xavier Savage hanging off him. Hayze Perham converts. Raiders 30-22

63 min: He's back! Big Papa returns to the field for his final stint on home soil.

61 min: More six-again calls, more pressure on the Broncos and on the last play Owen Pattie puts in a grubber that Pat Carrigan fails to control and the ball pops up for Zac Hosking to score. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 30-16

59 min: Ethan Sanders kicks cross field for Jed Stuart who knocks on but Kotoni Staggs is penalised for an escort. 

57 min: Jordan Riki comes up with an error in contact and the Raiders have a scrum 40m out.

54 min: The Raiders choose to run the ball on the last but Jordan Riki comes up with a ball-and-all tackle to shut down Ethan Strange.

53 min: Ethan Strange grubbers. Hayze Perham knocks it dead. Broncos go long with the dropout.

50 min: Owen Pattie nudges the ball into the in-goal and Josiah Karapani cleans it up. Line dropout. The Broncos go short but knock it on in the contest. Raiders scrum 20m out.

48 min: The Broncos look to exploit the short side but Ezra Mam's pass to Deine Mariner is too hard and the centre can't make the catch.

46 min: Ben Hunt goes to the air and the ball comes down to Jordan Riki who grubbers ahead and regathers but is dragged down 5m short of the line.

43 min: On the back of a six-again call the Raiders mount plenty of pressure and Owen Pattie explodes out of dummy half from 10m out and gets past Kotoni Staggs to extend Canberra's lead. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 24-16

Billy buries demons: Returning to the ground where he suffered an ACL injury in last year's finals, Broncos hooker Billy Walters stood tall with a trademark try out of dummy half, a try assist for Ezra Mam to score, 60 run metres and 27 tackles.

Sensational Simi: In his return from a shoulder injury, Simi Sasagi was brilliant on the Raiders' right edge with two try assists and 113 run metres.

Half-time: A Kaeo Weekes double has the Green Machine in control as they convert 53 per cent of possession into a two-point lead at the break. Weekes was at his elusive best with 125 run metres and five tackle breaks.

40 min: The combination between Simi Sasagi and Kaeo Weekes strikes again as the fullback sends it on to his centre who steps his way into space again and sends it back inside for Weekes to dot down. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 18-16

39 min: Owen Pattie with a 40-20 out of dummy half and the Raiders get a great shot at late points.

38 min: Kaeo Weekes comes up with a grubber on the last play but Josiah Karapani covers up well and the Broncos come away.

33 min: Despite being down a man the Broncos come up with another try as Hayze Perham sends a superb long ball over the top for Grant Anderson to score in the right-hand corner. Perham's conversion hits the post. Broncos 16-12

27 min: Explosive speed from Ezra Mam to grab his eighth try of the season as Billy Walters continues to create havoc with his ball-play. Mam slices his way through and strolls around Kaeo Weekes to score. Hayze Perham adds the extras. 12-12

24 min: The Broncos go down a man after Pat Carrigan is sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Corey Horsburgh.

23 min: The Raiders come up with one of the tries of the season as Ethan Sanders chooses to run on the last and gets a pass away as he goes to the ground. Owen Pattie kicks across field and Xavier Savage taps the ball back to Kaeo Weekes who sends a long ball to Sanders who turns Ata Mariota underneath him and the back-rower carries Payne Haas over the line to score. Sanders converts. Raiders 12-6

19 min: A penalty against Pat Carrigan for a strip has the Broncos under the pump but Josiah Karapani comes up with a big defensive play to shut down Xavier Savage and the ball is turned over.

17 min: The Raiders go right through Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange before Kaeo Weekes chimes in from fullback and sends it on to Simi Sasagi who puts on some sweet footwork before sending it back inside for Weekes to cross. Sanders converts. 6-6

12 min: Ata Mariota goes close on the last tackle but the Broncos do enough to hold him up and they come out of trouble.

11 min: The Broncos fail to get to their kick on the set after points as Jaiyden Hunt comes up with a cold drop.

9 min: The perfect start for the Broncos as Billy Walters takes off out of dummy half from 10 metres out and leaves Matty Nicholson in his wake to score next to the posts. Hayze Perham converts. Broncos 6-0

8 min: A bomb spills back to Pat Carrigan who sends it to Grant Anderson who grubbers into the in-goal to force a line dropout.

7 min: Ethan Sanders goes to the air and Hayze Perham comes up with a safe catch.

5 min: The Broncos squander their opportunity as Xavier Willison makes a mess of playing the ball.

4 min: An error from Jed Stuart under a high ball and the Broncos go inside the red zone early.

1 min: A huge roar around GIO Stadium as Josh Papalii takes the fourth hit-up of the match.

Late Mail

Raiders: The Raiders are 1-19 with no late changes at 'Papa's House'. Centre Simi Sasagi is back from a shoulder injury while Papalii has been promoted to the starting side at in his final home game for the Raiders. Canberra have scored an average of 35 points in their last four games at home. 

Broncos: The Broncos line up 1-19. Hayze Perham will play his fifth NRL game of the season as he takes over at fullback from Reece Walsh (syndesmosis). Veteran Ben Hunt will start at halfback for the first time since Round 18 with youngster Tom Duffy moved to the bench. 

Numbers Game

• The Raiders have scored an average of 35 points in their last four games at GIO Stadium.
• The Broncos have won four of their last six games against the Raiders.
• Raiders winger Jed Stuart has scored five tries in his last five games.
• Broncos second-rower Jack Gosiewski will make his 100th NRL appearance.
• Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has won eight of his last nine games against Michael Maguire-coached sides.