Brisbane has mounted a stunning second-half fightback to deny Josh Papali’i a win in his final game at Canberra Stadium before the Dolphins shook off another slow start to take down the Eels.
The loss ended the Raiders’ faint finals hopes after they looked on track for a celebratory victory while leading 30-16 with 18 minutes left in the retiring Papali’i’s hometown farewell.
But 18 straight points, capped saw the Broncos to a 34-30 win in scenes reminiscent of their comeback win at the same ground in last year’s finals series, albeit in much lower stakes and far more conventional fashion.
At Lang Park, the Dolphins consolidated their place in the league’s top four with a 34-16 win over the Eels after they too trailed 10-0 after just 20 minutes.
The Dolphins have made a habit of relying on their sparkling attack to fire them back from slow starts, and it has now carried them to five straight wins and four points clear of Cronulla in fourth spot.
Look back at all the action in our live blog below, and check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre.
NRL live scores
That’s where we’ll leave you
Thanks for sticking with us through another exciting night of football as the Brisbane boys got it done twice.
There’s a full weekend of sport ahead of us, including more NRL, AFL, Test cricket and the Dutch F1 Grand Prix.
We’ll be blogging it all, so please stick with ABC Sport all weekend.
FULL-TIME: The Dolphins make it five straight with a 34-16 win over Parra
It feels like a lifetime ago that the Eels led this game 10-0 but it was only an hour of game time ago.
The Dolphins show once again their elite attacking class that’s the best in the league, but giving up another slow start isn’t a reliable tactic come finals time.
And they will be playing finals, very likely at least two weeks of it as this win moves them four points ahead of the Sharks in fifth place, albeit with a tough clash with the Roosters coming up next week.
And look, the Broncos won the premiership in 2025 with three straight double-digit comebacks and electric attack, so what do I know?
Herbie Farnworth goes the distance to end the game
The Eels try one last shift out to the right but Apa Twidle’s tap-on hits the ground and Herbie Farnworth swoops, going 80 metres to score with a minute left in the game.
73′ Tom Flegler reported for a hip drop
The Eels seem to have lost the ball but the play is called back for a penalty against Tom Flegler for a hip drop.
The Eels spring back to life
Mitchell Moses sees Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow up in the line so he chips into space and it looks like Kodi Nikorima has won the race with Will Penisini, but he can’t handle and knocks the ball into the path of Kelma Tuilagi to score.
62′ At long last, something doesn’t quite come off for the Dolphins
Selwyn Cobbo breaks down the left wing and tries to banana kick back inside but it’s straight to Apa Twidle, who then gets a penalty as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow hangs on too long in the tackle.
Pure energy carries Max Plath over the line
Herbie Farnworth goes close, Felise Kaufusi goes closer, and then Max Plath gets the ball with a little bit of space and just surges between defenders, holding off Jack Williams as he crashes over.
59′ How much longer can the Eels hold on?
The Dolphins are dominating this half to the point it feels like the Eels haven’t seen the ball at all.
You can’t imagine the Phins will be denied for much longer.
Good grief, it’s another spectacular try for the Dolphins
Isaiya Katoa double pumps to unleash Jack Bostock down the right and he can’t quite find Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow back on the inside.
But the Dolphins reload and once again go sideline to sideline with seven passes and Bostock sends Jamayne Isaako over on the right flank.
The ball playing from this team is ridiculous and the backline is just absolutely stacked.
A lot of love for Papa earlier tonight
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41′ Second half is underway in Brisbane
HALF-TIME: Dolphins lead Eels 16-10
40′ The Dolphins denied a worldie by Farnworth’s forward pass
It’s another Harlem Globetrotters-esque effort from the Dolphins to end the half, but Herbie Farnworth’s pass outt o Selwyn Cobbo is called forward.
The bunker robs Sean Russell of a miraculous try-saver
Jack Bostock skies over Josh Addo-Carr and flicks a brilliant offload out to Jamayne Isaako, who catches on the bounce and tries to hit and spin on Sean Russell, but the Eels centre has somehow ripped the ball out of his hands at the last moment!
It’s a close one for the bunker, but it looks to me like he’s pulled off a miracle here.
BUT NO! IT’S A TRY!!
The bunker overrules Gerard Sutton!
The ball was apparently on the ground when Jamayne Isaako had control of it. Gee, I’m not sure about that. I definitely don’t think he forced the ball into the turf at any point. Certainly not enough evidence to overturn the decision for mine.
34′ We’re in for a shooutout
The Eels are finding some space and almost break down the right, but Selwyn Cobbo just manages to shut down Brian Kelly.
Still, these sides are throwing the ball around; the Dolphins because that’s their style and the Eels because they’ve got nothing to lose.
What. A. TRY!
The Dolphins’ fifth tackle play almost sends Jamayne Isaako over on the right, but that’s shut down, so they spin it back left and Herbie Farnworth finds it in his heart to draw and pass out to Selwyn Cobbo.
He sets sail for the tryline, but steps inside the cover and dives in.
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Jamayne Isaako converts and just like that the Dolphins lead 12-10 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Perfect execution by the Phins off the scrum
The Dolphins pack the scrum out on the right with shape all out left.
Kodi Nikorima has his pick out wide, fakes to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow out the back but plays short to Herbie Farnworth, who bursts through the tackle of Mitchell Moses to score the hosts’ opener.
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25′ Dolphins rolling up the field
Great metres from the Dolphins, starting with the 1-2-3 punch of Selwyn Cobbo, Jamayne Isaako and Jack Bostock. And Isaiya Katoa caps the set with a grubber into the in-goal that forces a scrum for an accidental off side.
Brian Kelly accepts a gift from the Dolphins
The ball-handling error from Herbie Farnworth after a mountain of defence hands the Eels another chance and this time Will Penisini’s exceptional offload unleashes Brian Kelly to score in the corner.
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Really sloppy stuff by the Dolphins.
dan