The Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans had their first competitive hit-out of 2026, with the Titans claiming a 24-12 win at Redcliffe.
Here are all the key talking points out of the game that will leave both Krisitan Woolf and Josh Hannay with plenty to think about ahead of Round 1.
1. Klese Haas to rise after middle move
One of the positional moves that has gone under the radar this off-season is that of Klese Haas into the middle for the Titans.
A second-rower for the entirety of his career to date, Payne's brother now follows him into the middle third of the park, and looked the goods on Thursday night.
It's hardly a surprise, but he had agility and ball playing, while also running the ball hard and doing the little things a good prop should do.
While he is unlikely to land a starting spot for Hannay's side given Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika exist, Jaimin Jolliffe's season-ending ACL injury could leave Haas as the first man called off the pine each and every week, playing a monster role for the Titans.
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