And that’ll do me! Thanks for stopping by, be sure to tune back in tomorrow and every match day from now until the end of the season cause the ABC will be blogging every single NRL game in 2025.

Take it easy.

What a performance from Shibasaki, who finished with two tries, 174 metres, three line breaks and nine tackle busts. He’s a worthy winner of the Battle Medal as man of the match out there tonight.

“Madge has had a big part of it, especially with my preparation,” Shibasaki said.

“I don’t need to worry about the outside noise, I just need to worry about me.”

After debuting with Brisbane back in 2018, where he played 13 matches over the next 12 months, Shibasaki had short stints with North Queensland, Newcastle, South Sydney and the Tokatsu Green Rockets in Japanese rugby.

He played with Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup last year, apart from a brief stint with the Rabbitohs, and linked with Brisbane on a train-and-trial deal over the summer.

What a success story he’s been so far in 2025. I’ve seen him play a lot over the years and I must admit, I didn’t think he had this kind of form in him.

Michael Maguire praises his side’s maturity and toughness in winning the game in such bad conditions.

“They fought hard, the boys. Our middles are working hard for our edges and vice versa,” said Maguire.

“That’s what the boys are building now and we just have to stay at it.”

Maguire praises the work ethic of Gehamat Shibasaki, who won the Battle Medal as man of the match. 

“Day one, I wasn’t quite sure. I sat down with him and you could hear what he wanted to do,” said Maguire.

“He got himself in shape to play at this level. He really committed.

“He left his family up north and he wanted to take the opportunity.

“He’s been around a lot of the boys in the past and he probably wanted to be a part of it.”

Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf and captain Tom Gilbert are speaking now.

“We certainly put ourselves under a bit of pressure. What I was disappointed with was whenever the game got into it’s cycles it turned out to be us who made an error or a defensive mistake,” said Woolf.

“Says they’re making too many errors, especially early in sets.”

Gilbert says the issue is a lack of attention to detail and they’re getting closer to a win.

“We are getting closer, but we’re also making the same mistakes,” said Gilbert. 

“Our intensity and physicality has been good. We have to fix a few things.”

There’s a question about Tabuai-Fidow playing with an injury and Woolf defends him and says he’s been happy with the fullback’s effort.

Woolf also says Frank Molo is still a few weeks away from coming into the team given he hasn’t trained with a team in a long time.

He reiterates there have been no discussions with Daly Cherry-Evans at this point and doesn’t want to make any more comment on next season.

Brisbane claim the honours in the Olympic City in atrocious conditions. They had to earn that the hard way.

The Phins get a penalty for a high shot and go back on the attack. Is there time for a miracle?

No, because Nikorima went down a blindside and got hustled over the sideline.

A couple of Broncos turn their back on a kick chase and Averillo takes advantage, going round the outside and taking it 90 metres to score. It’s been a tough night for Averillo, but that’s a highlight.

Isaako converts and it’s 20-12 Brisbane with three minutes left.

Some enterprising offloading gets the Phins moving and Brisbane get done for back-to-back six agains once they get into the red zone.

But their attack can’t get it together and Nikorima throws a short ball that Farnworth puts down.

After a series of set-for-set battles, Walters goes for a 40/20 that Tabuai-Fidow saves only for Walters to force an error on Isaako a few tackles later, hitting right under the ball. A try here could really break things open.

And they have! A really nice sweep to the left and Walsh releases Shibasaki who cruises over for his second.

Reynolds kick is wide, Brisbane lead 20-6.

Shibasaki makes a great run that gets Brisbane over halfway and Walsh puts in a delicate kick on the next play to force a drop out as the Broncos look to turn the screws….only for Bostock to fly high and claim the short drop out!

And we’re halfway home. Phins kick us off.

Phins can’t get anything going in that last set – at one point, Tabuai-Fidow ran into one of his own players – and Brisbane take a ten-point lead into the break.

Riki catches Bostock in the face with his shoulder and the backrower is on report. Maybe a bit lucky not to be binned. Phins on the attack before the break.

Riki spins through a defender and from the quick play the ball Staggs goes over from dummy half from about 15 metres out – as soon as he took off he looked like he was going to score.

Been a good return for the centre. Reynolds bangs it over and it’s 16-6 Broncos. 

Katoa fires off a 40/20 and it looks great off the boot but Cobbo bats it back in, Walsh scoops it up, beats a defender and fires a pass in his own in-goal to Arthars and he juuust makes it out.

On replay, Cobbo’s foot was on the line when he tapped it back in. We’ll hear more about that later.

Dolphins are on the attack and it’s a bit pedestrian until Katoa accelerates, pokes his nose through and finds Kaufusi, he offloads to Plath and the whole-hearted backrower crashes over to score. They needed that.

Isaako converts and it’s back to 12-6.

Jayden Campbell has delivered one of the most mature performances of his NRL career to date as the Gold Coast halfback guided the Titans to a hard-fought 30-12 win over the Sydney Roosters.

Campbell scored a second-half intercept try that turned Friday’s game back in his side’s favour, before his forced drop-out led to Phillip Sami’s late try at Allianz Stadium.

Following Kieran Foran’s biceps injury, Campbell — used as a fullback through most of his previous 60 NRL games — has been entrusted with the No.7 jersey.

The livewire 25-year-old has grown with each game and his efforts helped end the Gold Coast’s 11-game losing streak against the Roosters, which stretched back to 2016.

On the other side of the ledger, it was another reality check for Trent Robinson’s men, who have started this season 1-3 and face bitter rivals South Sydney next Friday.

The good news for Robinson is that Victor Radley and Mark Nawaqanitawase both passed head injury assessments and should be clear to face the Bunnies.

There will be some doubt over prop Spencer Leniu, who was placed on report for high contact on Gold Coast front-rower Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

But this was a game for the taking for the Roosters, who had six first-half line breaks but just one try to their name which came courtesy of Nawaqanitawase in the 10th minute.

Five-eighth Sandon Smith — under added scrutiny following speculation his club are in the market for Daly Cherry-Evans — sent former Wallabies winger Nawaqanitawase over against the grain for his side’s opener.

The Roosters’ lead was short-lived when AJ Brimson powered through a narrow gap close to the line to put the Gold Coast on the board in the 18th minute.

It wasn’t until the second half that either side could find a breakthrough, Campbell kicking a penalty 30m out from in front when Siua Wong was penalised for a leg pull tackle on David Fifita.

Dom Young crossed to put the Roosters back in the box seat but as they went for the jugular, Smith pulled the wrong lever.

The playmaker looked to hit Angus Crichton and instead his pass was delivered on a platter to Campbell, who raced 100m to score and make it 12-12 with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Campbell then showed his class, trapping the Roosters in the in-goal with a grubberkick.

On the ensuing set, Campbell shaped to get set up for a field goal but instead the Titans flung it right to Sami, who touched down.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Brimson added tries in the final 10 minutes to further bolster the Titans’ advantage and ensure Des Hasler’s side begin their year 2-1 ahead of next Saturday’s home clash with the Dolphins.

AAP

A Bostock error puts Brisbane back on the attack and Paix strolls over not long after, he does it easy from dummy half! Reynolds converts and it’s 12-0 Broncos. 

Farnworth takes on Staggs but loses the ball and Brisbane go on the attack. Then Hunt goes short to Gosiewski, he offloads to Shibasaki and the reborn centre cruises over to score. Nice stuff.

Reynolds converts and it’s 6-0 Broncos.