Dolphins Plot Brutal Ambush on Broncos in Battle of Brisbane Showdown

The Dolphins are set to embrace an old-school, physical approach as they prepare for their highly anticipated derby clash against the Brisbane Broncos. Seeking his first victory as head coach, Kristian Woolf has turned to Canberra’s successful blueprint against Brisbane, aiming to overwhelm the Broncos’ pack with sheer force and a collective forward assault.

At the heart of this strategy is Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti, who has been a standout performer in an otherwise disappointing start to the season. Saifiti was the only Dolphins forward to clock over 100 running metres in their 30-18 loss to the Wests Tigers last week. Now, he is ready to lead the charge against his good mate and Broncos enforcer, Payne Haas.

The Dolphins have studied Canberra’s 32-22 win over Brisbane in round two, where the Raiders’ pack—led by Corey Horsburgh and Josh Papalii—bullied the Broncos into submission. That night, the Raiders’ forwards worked as a unit to smother Brisbane’s go-forward, something the Dolphins hope to replicate in their own way.

“We did a lot of video on that game,” Saifiti said. “Canberra ambushed them with that herd mentality, and we can take plenty from that. But our pack is different, and we have to put our own spin on it. It’s about everyone—forwards and backs—working together and taking confidence in that.”

Saifiti is also relishing the challenge of going head-to-head with Haas, a fellow NSW representative. “Payno’s a good mate, and I always enjoy playing against him,” he said. “For 80 minutes, it’s war, but once the game’s done, we’ll shake hands and move on.”

Brisbane’s pack, led by Haas and Pat Carrigan, is big, athletic, and dominant when given momentum. The Dolphins know that if they let the Broncos dictate terms early, it could be a long night. “They’re one of those teams that, if you let them get on top, they’ll run riot, like they did against the Roosters,” Saifiti added. “But Canberra showed there’s a way to beat them. We just have to focus on ourselves and execute.”

Despite their 0-3 start, the Dolphins are not losing hope. Saifiti likened the season to a marathon, stressing that there is still a long way to go. “If the season was a 42km marathon, we’ve only done five or six km,” he said. “No point feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ve got to attack it.”

With their backs against the wall, the Dolphins see the Battle of Brisbane as the perfect stage to turn their season around. They are ready to fight, ready to bash and barge, and above all, ready to prove their doubters wrong.