The Dolphins have risen from expansion-team outsiders to fourth on the NRL ladder, earning a preliminary-final meeting with the Roosters on Friday night.
The winner will secure a grand-final place in front of another sold-out Suncorp Stadium crowd.
The contest returns to the venue three years, six months and five days after the Dolphins stunned the Roosters in their first NRL match.
Roosters were strong favourites before that debut, facing a new Dolphins squad viewed as lacking star quality.
Instead, the Dolphins produced a major upset against a team packed with representative players.
That result became the defining moment of their first season, although the club continued to exceed expectations.
Written off as wooden-spoon contenders, the Dolphins finished 13th in 2023.
They improved steadily in 2024 and 2025, narrowly missing the finals in both seasons.
This year's fourth-place finish has delivered the club a significant opportunity to reach the decider.
Kristian Woolf's side is also attempting to become the first team since the 2005 Tigers to make a grand final during its first finals campaign.
The Dolphins' roster development across four seasons has been so impressive that prospective expansion clubs could learn from their approach.