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Kristian Woolf: It's not just Bulldogs who are desperate
Jasper Bruce, AAP • May 6th, 2026 2:52 pm
Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King is set to return for his first game of the season on Thursday | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Kristian Woolf insists the Dolphins are similarly desperate to struggling Canterbury, who could slip as low as 15th on the NRL ladder with another loss.
Semi-finalists last season, the 12th-placed Bulldogs already appear on tilt in 2026 after slumping to five losses from their past six games.
The Bulldogs have scored the second-fewest points this season behind only winless St George Illawarra and produced just one line break in their last-start loss to North Queensland.
The stumbling Bulldogs needs answers fast | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
They have conceded 30 points three times already this year, as many as for the entire regular season in 2025, when the Dolphins handed the Bulldogs their biggest loss of the year.
But coach Woolf said the 11th-placed Dolphins would also be desperate for a win when the two teams clash at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
Last week's defeat of Melbourne snapped a four-game losing streak that featured tight losses to heavyweights Penrith and the Warriors.
"(The Bulldogs) are going to be desperate, they're a good footy side, but we're desperate too," Woolf said.
"Our season hasn't rolled as well as we would've have liked it to have and we certainly haven't got the wins that we would've liked at this stage.
"It's important that we really consolidate on three good weeks but a good win last week and worry about ourselves."
Kristian Woolf says his Dolphins need to build on their win over the Storm | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Max Plath's hot form at hooker has meant Jeremy Marshall-King will start from the bench for his first game of the year, having battled thumb and knee injuries since October.
"There's no doubt (Marshall-King) makes a big difference to us but I've been really happy with 'Plathy'," Woolf said.
"I thought he was our best player against Penrith and against the Warriors, and certainly in our top couple last week as well."
The Bulldogs game is also the Dolphins' first since former State of Origin prop Daniel Saifiti announced his medical retirement on Monday.
Saifiti never sufficiently recovered after surgery on the shoulder injury he suffered in round eight last year and is expected to remain involved with the Dolphins in an off-field capacity.
"It's a real shame for us and a real shame for him, the way that's ended," Woolf said.
"Sometimes our bodies can get to a point where you've had one surgery too many and that's certainly the case with him."
