Dolphins v Broncos NRL Round 4 betting preview & tips | March 28

Dolphins v Broncos NRL R4 best bets

NRL Round 4: Dolphins v Brisbane Broncos betting preview

The Brisbane Broncos will be out to make a statement in Friday night’s all-Queensland showdown against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dolphins have made a winless start to the 2025 NRL season and were outclassed by the Tigers last week, raising questions about their spark under new coach Kristian Woolf.

Meanwhile, the Broncos bounced back from a loss to Canberra with a composed 26-16 win over the Cowboys and now turn their focus to a local rival they will be hungry to repay.

Despite last year’s 40-6 upset loss to the Dolphins, Brisbane have won three of the four previous clashes and are heavy favourites with the top rugby league bookmakers to extend that dominance.

The Broncos have also saluted in each of their last eight Friday night games against Queensland sides, while the Dolphins are scoring just 14.7 points per game this season and have failed to reach 18 in any match.

With Kotoni Staggs returning and Payne Haas leading the NRL in tackle busts, the Broncos will aim to control the middle and put this one away early.

The top NRL bookmakers have the line set at -13.5, and given the Dolphins’ limp attack, the margin could blow out quickly.

Dolphins v Broncos Round 4 team news

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jake Averillo
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Jack Bostock
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Felise Kaufusi
11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
12. Max Plath
13. Tom Gilbert
14. Kurt Donoghoe
15. Oryn Keeley
16. Mark Nicholls
17. Ray Stone

The Dolphins stick solid with the same 17 from Round 3. Jack Bostock and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki retain their starting spots after returning last week, while Connelly Lemuelu remains sidelined with a facial fracture. Kenny Bromwich has again been named 18th man.

Brisbane Broncos

1. Reece Walsh
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Gehamat Shibasaki
5. Jesse Arthars
6. Ben Hunt
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Cory Paix
10. Payne Haas
11. Jack Gosiewski
12. Jordan Riki
13. Kobe Hetherington
14. Billy Walters
15. Corey Jensen
16. Xavier Willison
17. Brendan Piakura

Star centre Kotoni Staggs returns from a quad injury for his first game of the season, pushing Deine Mariner out of the squad. Otherwise, it’s a settled 17 with Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Jordan Riki leading the charge through the middle.

Dolphins v Broncos Round 4 betting predictions

Brisbane should have too much class in this Queensland derby, and their forward pack has been laying a powerful platform. The Broncos have won three of their last four meetings with the Dolphins and have covered this line in all their 2025 wins. With the Dolphins lacking attacking polish and Brisbane’s spine starting to click, backing the Broncos to win by 14 or more at $1.90 with BetOnline looks like the best play.

Payne Haas has been an absolute wrecking ball through three rounds, leading the NRL in tackle breaks while maintaining a 99% tackle efficiency. The Broncos enforcer has scored in two of his last four appearances at Suncorp Stadium. and is a huge threat close to the line. At $5.30 for an anytime try at BetOnline, he’s great value against a Dolphins middle that’s conceded soft tries this season.

With attacking weapons on both sides and defensive lapses starting to creep into Brisbane’s game, the over is well in play here. The Dolphins have conceded 72 points in three games, and the Broncos are averaging 32.7 points per game themselves. If the game opens up as expected, over 51.5 total points at $1.90 with BetOnline is a strong total bet.

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