A fascinating contest awaits at TIO Stadium in Darwin as a wounded Panthers side take on the Dolphins in Round 7 of the NRL on Friday night.
Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers
This time last week, the Panthers were 5-0 with each of their wins coming by 20 or more points.
The Bulldogs stunned them in Round 6, however, outmuscling them en route to a 32-16 victory.
Up against a Dolphins side that have suffered back-to-back heavy losses, can Penrith make amends for their recent slip-up?
Leg 1 - Panthers 1-12
All the money is heading towards a big Panthers win in this clash, but there’s reason to believe this will be a tighter affair than many are predicting.
The Dolphins have historically punched above their weight in this fixture, winning their last meeting in 2025 and losing by 1-12 in the two prior. They’ll be relaxed on Friday, given few expect them to win.
Darwin also isn’t the easiest trip, which will have disrupted the Panthers’ preparation this week.
Leg 2 - Under 52.5 Points
Two of the three past meetings between these sides have fallen under 52.5, with the other only exceeding it by 1.5 points.
The Dolphins have struggled for firepower in recent weeks, scoring 18 and 12 respectively, while the Panthers managed just 16 last week.
Combine that with travel and unfamiliar conditions, and it’d be no surprise to see this one go under.
Leg 3 - Thomas Jenkins to Score
If you don’t have Jenkins in your NRL multi in 2026, what are you doing?
The man has 14 tries in six games, with no fewer than two in each match this season. He bagged another brace last week, even in defeat.
Given this shapes as a lower-scoring game, the 2+ market carries more risk, but backing him to cross at some stage still makes plenty of sense.
Same Game Multi
Panthers 1-12 / Under 52.5 Points / Jenkins to Score = $8.00
Value Bet - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2+ Tries @ $5.00
One player who could bag a double is Tabuai-Fidow, who did just that last week against Manly.
The Dolphins fullback has six tries in three matches against the Panthers, including a hat-trick in their most recent clash and a brace the game before that.
His raw pace means any gap behind Penrith’s defensive line is a scoring chance, and he thrives in broken play late — exactly how this game could open up.
