NRL round 12 tips: Joey predicts bye week threat could light a fire under Dolphins for icy road trip
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Andrew Johns has tipped Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf to turn next week's bye into a threat to fire up his players when they visit the Raiders for an icy clash in the nation's capital on Thursday night.
The Dolphins have had a hot and cold 2026 season, with some pundits believing that they are a top four side and potentially even a premiership contender at their best.
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Despite their obvious attacking talent, Woolf's team sits in equal eighth spot in a tight section of the ladder as the season moves into the crucial Origin period.
Dolphins players react after a Sea Eagles try during their round five match. Getty
Both the Dolphins and the Raiders have been impacted by rep selection, with Canberra missing Ethan Strange and Hudson Young, while the Dolphins visit the nation's capital without the services of fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, winger Selwyn Cobbo, prop Tom Flegler, and hooker/lock Max Plath.
Significantly, the Dolphins will also be missing classy five-eighth Kodi Nikorima and gun centre Herbie Farnworth, who was a late scratching due to a hamstring injury, which will force gun halfback Isaiya Katoa to take on the full burden of the playmaking load.
Still, even with a lot of firepower missing, the Dolphins still have a dangerous backline featuring, Jamayne Isaako, Jack Bostock and Trai Fuller.
For that reason both Johns and Brad Fittler are tipping the Dolphins to get the job done and go into a bye week tucked away in the top eight.
Yet to do that they will have to put in a far better performance than their last effort with a bye on the horizon. The Dolphins were thrashed 52-18 when they hosted Manly in round five.
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"You know what I like in this one? Why I like the Dolphins?," Johns asked on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth's Tips.
"They're going into the bye after this one. Previously, earlier in the year when they were going into a bye they played Manly at home and got 52 put on them.
"I could imagine Kristian Woolf would be saying, 'listen you blokes, aim up or you're not going to be putting your feet up next week'."
In contrast the Raiders are fresh after having a bye in Magic Round. Canberra are currently two points behind the Dolphins in 12th on the ladder.
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