The Dolphins may have missed the NRL finals in 2025, but it’s certainly been an entertaining ride.
Following their 62-24 demolition of the undermanned Raiders in Round 27, Kristian Woolf’s side has registered one of the highest points hauls ever seen in an NRL season, despite the almost constant absence of key players through injury.
The Phins’ 721 season points tally is the ninth highest in the NRL era, with all eight teams ahead of them on that list finishing in the top four in their respective seasons according to Random Stats Guy.
Unfortunately, this means the 2025 Dolphins now hold the somewhat dubious record of most points scored in an NRL regular season while still missing the finals.
MORE: Raiders star finals hopes in doubt after severe ankle injury
There’s little need for a public inquiry to reveal why, of course.
For while the Dolphins averaged a tick over 30 points per game in 2025, they also let in nearly 25 points—giving the Phins the seventh worst defence in the NRL.
Tellingly, their 596 points conceded this season was a whopping 75 points more than the worst defence of any top eight side (521 points, Sydney Roosters).
The good news is it’s clear where Woolf and the Dolphins need to focus in the off-season as the Redcliffe-based outfit continues to chase its maiden NRL finals appearance.
Plenty of experts have had their say, including Phil Gould who lamented the Dolphins lack of consistent defensive steel earlier in the season.
“If you’re good enough to score 50, then you’re good enough to stop your opposition scoring,” Gould remarked back in July.
“If your dominance is so much, physically and skill wise, you should be applying that in defence as well.”
In their three-year existence the Dolphins have steadily climbed up the NRL ladder, finishing 13th in 2023, 10th in 2024 and now 9th in 2025.
Assuming they can get—and keep—more of their first-choice squad on the field in 2026 there seems little doubt the finals are coming.
Just not this time.
The best attacking team in the comp won't be playing finals 🤯
— Random Stats Guy (@randostatsguy) September 7, 2025
The Dolphins scored the most points in a regular season by a team outside the top 8 🔥
Crazy year! #NRL pic.twitter.com/pmZxuh6npd