The 2026 Dolphins season was the Dolphins club's fourth season and their first finals appearance in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition in Australia.https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/teams/dolphins/seasons.html On 12 September, they defeated the New Zealand Warriors 26-16 at Go Media Stadiumhttps://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2026/finals-week-1/warriors-v-dolphins/ in finals week 1 and qualified for a preliminary final, losing 20-36 to the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 25 September. In this match (his 98th and last for the Dolphins club), Jamayne Isaako scored 12 points to finish on 310 points (including the finals series) and became the fourth player in NRL history to score at least 300 points in a single season.https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-dolphins-player-ratings-match-report-isaiya-katoa-herbie-farnworth-hamiso-tabuaifidow-opinion-analysis-news/news-story/396e1a85e1d0cca0ee11a3ad5752da0d
During the regular 2026 season, the Dolphins won a total of seventeen matches including two consecutive (15 - 21 March), eight consecutive (1 May – 27 June) and a further seven consecutive (19 July - 4 September). Their biggest loss to date was to the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (66-0) in round 19 at Kayo Stadium.https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-world-in-shock-as-records-tumble-in-sharks-66-point-demolition-of-dolphins-c-22564072 In round 23 at Suncorp Stadium, the Dolphins won the Battle for Brisbane (40-32) and effectively ended the Brisbane Broncos chances of a finals berth.https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-live-updates-dolphins-vs-brisbane-broncos-score-team-news-highlights/news-story/136388c97aed8695e1c2b11885f06dcf
In the following round, the Dolphins qualified for the 2026 NRL finals series. At the end of the regular season, they finished third on the competition ladder. Also in round 24, Jamayne Isaako scored 1000 club points for the fewest NRL games (93); this broke the 1981 record (98) of Michael Cronin (Parramatta Eels).https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-manly-sea-eagles-dolphins-results-jamayne-isaako-breaks-scoring-record-video-highlights-20260814-p60ojd.html At season end, Isaako was the 2026 top points (288) scorer in the NRL.
The Dolphins won their first ever finals game on 13 September against the Warriors at Mount Smart, Auckland, progressing to their first ever preliminary final, a home game against the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on 25 September. They lost to the Roosters 36-20, ending their second eight-game winning streak of the year and their finals campaign. At the 2026 Dally M Awards, in addition to Jamayne Isaako winning top NRL point scorer for the second consecutive year, Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth were named in the NRL Team of the Year as winger and centre respectively.
Player movement The following player movements happened across the previous season and off-season.https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/01/01/2026-nrl-signings-tracker-the-latest-from-all-17-clubs/
Gains PlayerPrevious clubLengthMorgan KnowlesSt Helens2027Selwyn CobboBrisbane Broncos2027Brad SchneiderPenrith Panthers2026
Losses PlayerNew ClubJosh KerrSt. George Illawarra DragonsMark NichollsRetiredKenny BromwichRetiredHarrison GrahamNewcastle KnightsAublix TawhaBrisbane BroncosSean O'SullivanCanterbury-Bankstown BulldogsRyan JacksonReleasedJames WalshNorth Queensland Cowboys
Pre-season challenge The Dolphins played in the 2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge in February,https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/01/20/2026-witzer-pre-season-challenge-everything-you-need-to-know/ prior to the commencement of the regular 2026 NRL season in March.https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-trials-2025-fixtures-schedule-results-ladder-pre-season/14dace990fe01730fd99be1c
Regular season
Ladder
Results by round
Matches
The league fixtures were released on 14 November 2025.
Finals series
2026 squad
References