Time is right for Kodi's Dolphins to set the record straight

Kodi Nikorima knows a thing or two about Queensland rivalries and he'd love nothing more than to help the Dolphins start setting the record straight against the Broncos.

Back in 2015 in his debut season, Nikorima came off the bench in Brisbane's grand final loss to the Cowboys - a team they had dominated for the first nine years of their rivalry.

After entering the competition in 1995, it took the Cowboys until the 2004 finals series to finally beat 'big brother', but by 2015 they were NRL champions after winning a grand final for the ages.

Wind the clock forward to 2023 and Nikorima was part of the Dolphins' inaugural season, having made the move north from the Rabbitohs.

The NRL newbies exploded out of the blocks with wins over the Roosters, Raiders and Knights before taking on the Broncos for the first time in a Friday night barnburner at Suncorp Stadium.

With former Broncos Jamayne Isaako, Brenko Lee, Jarrod Wallace, Anthony Milford, Tesi Niu and Nikorima in their ranks, the Dolphins more than held their own, leading 12-8 with 10 minutes to play before tries to Kurt Capewell and Kotoni Staggs got Brisbane home.

They may have been the 'away' team that night but Staggs' emotional 'this is our home' celebration after his match-winning try ensured the Battle of Brisbane would be compelling viewing from that day forward.

This Friday's game will be the seventh meeting, with the Dolphins' only win – a big 40-6 result – coming back in Round 26, 2024 to effectively end the Broncos' chances of playing finals.

“They’ve obviously got the wood on us, they’re the reigning champs, it's always a big game,” Nikorima said.

“Obviously you want to do well against your old teams and they’re one of mine, so it’s definitely one I look at when the draw comes out.

“I wouldn’t say there’s hatred but when you’re out there playing you want to do your best and you don’t want the opposition to win. 

“It is another game, but there’s a lot more crowd that turn up too, so that makes it more exciting.”

Just as Staggs' emotions bubbled over in that first encounter in 2023, so too Dolphins enforcer Ray Stone admits to feeling an extra edge when the co-tenants clash at The Cauldron.

“I've gotten emotional in the past and it just gets the better of me, so I just try to keep it as laid back as possible leading into it," he said.

“You always want to play the best teams and you want to play them at their best so not having Haas there is different but we're focused on ourselves and we're trying to improve from our game last week."

The Broncos welcome back skipper Adam Reynolds from a rib injury as they look to build on a courageous come from behind win in last week's grand final rematch against the Storm.

The battle between Reynolds and Ezra Mam and Dolphins duo Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa promises to be a highlight, with Brisbane's old master looking to get one over the Dolphins' young gun.

“There’s a lot we can grow on together,” Nikorima said of his burgeoning partnership with Katoa.

“I know it’s early rounds and you’ve seen with the new rule changes and six-agains, the team that completes the most does well. We’ll keep building.”