The Gabba will play host to Saturday's Round 18 NRL game between Brisbane Broncos and Dolphins. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Brisbane Broncos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Broncos vs. Dolphins game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday July 1, 2023 at 7:35 pm

Where: The Gabba

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Brisbane Broncos vs Dolphins Odds

Brisbane Broncos vs Dolphins Preview

The inaugural derby between Brisbane Broncos and the Dolphins was a match for the ages, but the return clash – the first-ever premiership fixture held at The Gabba – sees both sides at their lowest ebb of overachieving 2023 campaigns.

The ladder-leading Broncos came off the Round 16 bye on a character-filled three-match winning run, but it one of the boilovers of the season they were rolled 18-12 by Gold Coast at Suncorp last Sunday.

Errors and a lack of patience and respect for the opposition brought them undone, while they narrowly missed out on a score-levelling try on a couple of occasions as they chased late points. Coach Kevin Walters absolutely sprayed his title-contending charges post-match.

The subsequent fallout of that loss has been even more damaging. Reece Walsh was controversially suspended for contrary conduct, while prop Tom Flegler and second-row mainstay Jordan Riki are both out for varying periods with foot injuries.

Tristan Sailor – superb in the Broncos’ upset of the Warriors before Origin I – is the likely fullback replacement for the red-hot Walsh, while Keenan Palasia and Xavier Willison come into the starting pack.

The wheels have fallen off defensively for the 7-8 Dolphins, who have slipped to 11th via three straight losses to the Warriors, Manly and Parramatta in which they conceded a total of 136 points.

The Dolphins can glean some positives from their second-half effort in a 48-20 loss to the Eels on the Sunshine Coast after a 42-4 first-half landslide, but they were absolutely steamrolled through the middle with Felise Kaufusi (102 metres) the only Dolphins forward to run for more than 83 metres.

Tesi Niu returns on the wing for tryscoring wing debutant Brayden McGrady, while Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) is a big inclusion. Kodi Nikorima drops back to the bench and Sean O’Sullivan starts at halfback again after making an early return from a long-term layoff last week.

The Dolphins were arguably the moral victors as the Broncos won an absolute thriller 18-12 in Round 4, the newcomers’ first NRL defeat. But those early-season standards have certainly slipped in recent weeks.

Don’t be too concerned by the Broncos’ list of absentees. They’ve already proved their depth is outstanding across the board and last week’s kick up the backside from the Titans – and their coach – should ensure an emphatic bounce-back statement against a team that is haemorrhaging points.

Content provided by Ladbrokes