Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have produced a spectacular NRL debut, defeating competition heavyweights Sydney Roosters 28-18 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The NRL’s newest franchise simply outclassed an error-riddled Roosters in front of over 32,000 as Bennett’s side capped off celebrations honouring the late Arthur Beetson.
Former Bulldogs hooker Jeremy Marshall-King starred to link well with halves Sean O’Sullivan and Isaiya Katoa seamlessly while veteran forwards Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Mark Nicholls showed age is no barrier in 2023.
With scores locked at half-time, the Dolphins produced an incredible second half of football, running in three tries in 10 minutes to run away with victory.
The Roosters kicked off proceedings in the 10th minute after Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako knocked on a Luke Keary bomb in the in goal and centre Joseph Suaali’i managed to get a hand on the ball.
The newcomers struck back when Marshall-King sliced through the Roosters defence before finding Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in support who made history to score the Dolphins’ first-ever NRL try.
Dolphins five-eighth Katoa had a moment to forget after the try when he knocked the ball on off the kick-off, enabling the Roosters to capitalise when James Tedesco put Drew Hutchison through from close range.
Come the 35th minute and a seesaw battle began to play out when Marshall-King grabbed his second try assist, sweeping left to find former South Sydney prop Nicholls who crashed over the line.
After Wayne Bennett’s message was ‘keep it simple’ at half time, the Dolphins returned to score back-to-back tries through forward Connelly Lemuelu and Isaako to steal a 24-12 lead early in the second half.
The Roosters looked to hit back when a Keary cross-field kick created an opportunity for Daniel Tupou in the corner but the veteran winger fumbled the ball over the line.
Four minutes later and the Dolphins blew the game wide open when Katoa saw the Roosters defence scrambling and found Isaako out wide who strolled over the line and the home side had a 16-point lead.
Things went from bad to worse for the Roosters when second rower Egan Butcher was sin-binned for dangerous contact moments before forwards Victor Radley and Matt Lodge were ruled out with head injuries.
With 14 minutes to play, Keary kicked again for Tupou and this time the flyer got a favorable bounce to bring the scores 28-18 but that’s as close as the visitors came to reducing the deficit.
Source: NRL.com