Dolphins vs Titans Prediction: Big win will keep Fins in finals reckoning

After three straight losses, the Dolphins need snookers to reach the NRL Premiership finals series. But a win at Suncorp Stadium against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday (16:05 local, 07:05 BST) would at least see them take the battle into the last round of the regular season.

All Kristian Woolf’s ninth-placed side can do is get back to winning ways and put the ball in the Sydney Roosters’ court. Read on for my Dolphins vs Titans predictions, complete with full team news and match odds from Betfred.

Dolphins vs Titans Odds

Given the stakes and the placings on the ladder, it is easy to see why the Dolphins are the favourites to win Sunday’s fixture.

The Fins are 8/15 (65.2% implied probability) for the victory inside 80 minutes, while the Titans are 8/5. The draw, meanwhile, is a 20/1 chance.

On the two-way handicap, the Dolphins are giving up a 6.5-point start. They’re 10/11 to overcome that, with the Titans 5/6 to make the most of the advantage.

Team News

Having lost 58-30 to the Sea Eagles last week, the Dolphins will be pleased to have stand-off Kodi Nikorima back available. The brother of Salford Red Devils star Jayden was a late withdrawal last week with a sickness bug, but after returning to full health he should replace Jake Averillo in the halves.

Averillo moves to centre, with Max Feagai missing out. Meanwhile, Connelly Lemuelu gets a call in the second row due to an ankle injury sustained by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

For Gold Coast, former Australia rugby union player Carter Gordon is one of the reserves after recovering from a spinal injury. Coach Des Hasler has initially listed the same 17 which lost 32-18 at home to the Warriors last week.

Rugby League Odds

Handicap 2-way Alt 2: Dolphins -12.5 @ 13/8

For a fair stretch of this season, the Dolphins were the team for all neutrals to watch in the NRL.

Over a seven-game period between May and July, they scored 283 points at an average of more than 40 per game, clearing 50 on three separate occasions.

They have also shipped a few points, twice being stunned for 58 or more points in their last three matches. So they have become a really tough outfit to pick.

Just last week they scored 30 against the Sea Eagles but were still well beaten, but coming up against the worst team in the league they have to be backed to have a fair old swing at getting into the top eight.

With Nikorima back alongside Isaiya Katoa and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow up their sleeves, the Dolphins should have more than enough to put the Titans in their place. Whether they can get that last finals spot next week might be another question entirely, but that’s not going to sway my thinking on this 13/8 bet at a 38.1% implied probability.

Dolphins to win both halves @ 9/5

When you’re looking at big scorers, there’s probably higher margins to be considered. And the Dolphins are not a side to get ahead and then be caught pondering.

They have led at half-time in eight of their 10 wins to date this season, with a 6-6 scoreline in their eventual 20-16 win at Parramatta also worth considering.

In six of those games, they have won both halves. So if we’re thinking this is a likely Dolphins win, the track record says 60% of those come with successes either side of the break.

And that’s what makes the implied 35.7% probability of the 9/5 price seem minuscule, even before you consider the need for them to make sure they keep a buffer up in the event they finish level on competition points with the Roosters in the race for eighth.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.