NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Dolphins and Roosters go head-to-head in preliminary final

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Brock, D. (2026, September 25). NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Dolphins and Roosters go head-to-head in preliminary final. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-finals-2026-live-updates-dolphins-and-roosters-go-head-to-head-in-preliminary-final-20260925-p610ed.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

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Quick Summary

The article provides live updates for the NRL preliminary final match between the Dolphins and the Roosters on October 29, 2026. The Roosters, with key player Sam Walker returning from injury, face an underdog status against the Dolphins, who are playing in their first finals series but are favored by bookmakers. The match features high-profile players like Daly Cherry-Evans and Mark Nawaqanitawase for the Roosters, while the Dolphins have a strong backline led by Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidoway, and Herbie Farnworth.

Written by AI on 2026-09-25, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

The NRL preliminary final on September 25th features the Dolphins against the Sydney Roosters at Lang Park, with the winner securing a spot in the upcoming grand final. The match is significant as it marks the Dolphins' first-ever chance to reach the NRL grand final just four years after joining the league, while the Roosters aim for their first berth since 2019. Notably, Roosters halfback Sam Walker has been cleared to play despite a recent foot injury, returning from a syndesmosis injury sustained last month. His inclusion is seen as a major boost for the team's chances. Additionally, the game includes insights into Walker’s playing style from his father Ben, who won premierships with the Broncos in the late 1990s and praises Sam for being more strategic than he appears.

Written for “NRL Prelim Final Roosters dolphins” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

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📰 NRL Prelim Final Roosters dolphins

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This article reads unscored and hedges 8% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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“Article A discusses the general tension and significance of preliminary finals, while Article B provides live updates for a specific NRL preliminary final match between Dolphins and Roosters.”

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1 of 12 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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takes no side on a contested political question

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61/100

The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Dominic Brock

3 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Patriotic Aussie sporting fans looking for a win tonight may be wise to follow the footy only, with Australia’s cricketers making a meal of their final day run chase against South Africa so far.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Rugby League World Cup LIVE: Kangaroos’ campaign continues against Cook Islands

🔮 Sam’s father Ben Walker, a two-time premiership-winner with the Broncos of the late 1990s, says the Roosters halfback is not the off-the-cuff playmaker he may seem.

2026-09-25 · assertive framing · NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Dolphins and Roosters go head-to-head in preliminary final

🔮 Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed Angus Crichton will make a long-awaited return from injury after a false start last week, and also revealed halfback Sam Walker is a strong chance to play in next weekend’s preliminary final should his side progress that far.

2026-09-19 · assertive framing · NRL finals LIVE updates: Roosters face Sharks in sudden-death showdown

Also by Dominic Brock

Rugby League World Cup LIVE: Kangaroos’ campaign continues against Cook Islands

2026-10-31 · The Sydney Morning Herald

NRL finals LIVE updates: Roosters face Sharks in sudden-death showdown

2026-09-19 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

Claims (12 extracted, 1 hedged)

Loading Latest Posts The Dolphins toppled the Roosters on their own turf less than a month ago, winning 26-12 at Allianz Stadium in round 26. asserted

Dolphins → topple → round

Loading The biggest inclusion in tonight’s game is Roosters No.7 Sam Walker, who returns from a syndesmosis injury in a huge boost to the visitors’ chances. asserted

who → return → chances

Sam’s father Ben Walker, a two-time premiership-winner with the Broncos of the late 1990s, says the Roosters halfback is not the off-the-cuff playmaker he may seem. uncertain

he → say → cuff

“The beauty of being able to talk to him after a game is asking what he saw in a moment before executing a pass or a kick,” Ben explains. asserted

Ben → talk → pass

“And I know the way he plays looks a bit chaotic and off the cuff, but those explanations of, ‘I know this defender has a habit of turning in on this play’, or, ‘The fullback can drift too far across field late in a half’ – that’s where you learn he’s far more considered and more calculating than people would think. asserted

people → know → half

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the biggest game of the NRL season so far, with the Dolphins and Roosters vying to become the first team to earn a spot in next week’s grand final. asserted

Dolphins → welcome → final

Tonight’s clash feels like a good old-fashioned David and Goliath battle – except this time David is the favourite to win it. asserted

David → feel → it

The underdogs with the bookies are the Roosters: perennial premiership contenders, blessed with perhaps the most talented squad in the competition, complete with the recruitment of premiership-winning halfback Daly Cherry-Evans – who is bidding to “do a Cooper Cronk” and win a title with the Roosters at the end of his career. asserted

who → bless → career

This will be the farewell season for Cherry-Evans and also superstar winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, who will return to rugby union at the end of this season. asserted

who → return → season

Has he got another freakish try in store tonight? asserted

he → get → store

Up against them is a Dolphins side playing in its first ever NRL finals series, and now just 80 minutes away from a place in the decider. asserted

side → play → decider

Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Herbie Farnworth headline arguably the best backline in the league, and they’ll have a home crowd behind them at Suncorp Stadium. asserted

they → headline → Stadium

NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Dolphins and Roosters go head-to-head in preliminary final

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Claims (12 extracted, 1 hedged)