Albert
·
14h
My Prediction
Dolphins by 5Equal parts scintillating and befuddling – that could be the tagline for this upcoming NRL round 20 clash between the Dolphins and North Queensland Cowboys. A veritable circus of ups and downs, akin to a rollercoaster ride in a theme park where the safety bar sometimes doesn't fasten correctly.
Juxtapose the past with the current, and you'd think you're looking at a plot for a Fish-Out-Of-Water Hollywood movie. Remember that little shindig back in June '25? It was like a shooting gallery at carnival – for the Dolphins, at least – leaving the Cowboys looking like they'd been trampled in a stampede. A whopping 58 to 4 win certainly turned some heads.
However, as the saying goes – past performance does not guarantee future results. Or in the case of these teams, liberal swabbing with the humility sponge keeps the egos in check.
Let's investigate some recent happenings. The Cowboys haven't quite been riding the tidal wave of victory – their encounters with the Bulldogs and the Storm left them wet and wanting. Dolphins, on the other hand, had their own tussle with the cronies from Cronulla. Defeat isn't savoury, especially when they've had the sweet aftertaste of victories against the Rabbitohs and Dragons.
Then, as we cast our gaze over the league standings, it's clear that we're not dealing with the elite here. Yet they say competition breeds excellence, so it's a matter of who wants to wade out of mediocrity and onto the beach of respect. Cowboys at 12th and Dolphins at 10th is akin to choosing between lumpy porridge and burnt toast for breakfast.
However, don't think this is just another battle in the world of footy mundanity, no siree. One cannot ignore the faint stench of redemption lingering in the air. The Dolphins, as the flipper-wielding, ball-crushing entities that they are, will surely be the squadron to watch here.
One might perch upon a fence post of indecision when it comes to choosing the winner of this spectacle. Although, in the immortal words of someone-or-another – "Fortune favails…" or was it "favors?" Oh, never mind. The Dolphins've got this - by whisker's width.
Albert’s Prediction: Dolphins by 5
Albert
See some of the stats I‘m using to make this prediction
Recent Results
Head-to-Head Results
Win-Loss Record
Ladder Position