The side Johns thinks can ‘pinch’ a premiership in 2026

With the NRL season officially underway, Matty Johns believes that the Dolphins are capable of pinching a premiership in 2026.

In their three-year existence within the NRL, the boys from Redcliffe are yet to finish a home and away season in the top eight.

But they have slowly been building their way into contention under coach Kristan Woolf.

Despite finishing ninth in 2025, the Dolphins managed to score the most points in the regular season with 721 points, showing their attack to be incredibly dangerous.

And coming into 2026, the side looks poised to make their first finals appearance, having added former Queensland winger Selwyn Cobbo to their ranks, which makes their outside backs even more dynamic.

With a solid mix of youth and experience within their team, which includes Isaiya Katoa, Herbie Farnworth, Felise Kafusi and Kodi Nikorima, the 1997 ARL Premiership player, thinks that the Dolphins could be capable of pulling off a surprise premiership like the Melbourne Storm did in their second season.

“That is a strong squad,” Johns said on SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.

“It’s a great balance between really experienced guys and young guys on the up.

“If they can just have a good run, I think this team, like the Storm did in ’99 are capable of pinching a comp out of nowhere.”

The Dolphins begin their fourth season in the NRL against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on March 8 at Suncorp Stadium.