The Dolphins have delivered a commanding 38-10 victory over the Sharks on Saturday night, putting together a dominant all-round performance and building strong momentum ahead of this Friday’s XXXX Derby.
Playing with control and confidence, the Dolphins combined defensive resilience with attacking flair to secure their second win of the season.
Jake Averillo opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing out wide to give the visitors an early advantage.
The Sharks responded soon after, but the Dolphins quickly regained control through a moment of class from Isaiya Katoa. The halfback launched a 21-metre cut-out pass to Jamayne Isaako, who crossed on the right edge in the 30th minute.
Isaako on the end of a beauty from Katoa
Momentum stayed firmly with the Dolphins heading into halftime, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow extending the lead in the 38th minute after capitalising on strong attacking pressure.
The Sharks struck first in the second half, but the Dolphins absorbed the challenge and responded in style.
Averillo crossed for his second try of the night as the Dolphins began to pull away, before Selwyn Cobbo soared over on the wing for his first try in Dolphins colours and the 50th of his NRL career.
Cobbo gets his 50th NRL try
Connelly Lemuelu capped off the performance with a 79th-minute try, sealing an emphatic 38-10 victory on the road.
Head Coach Kristian Woolf praised the side’s ability to find balance between defence and attack, highlighting it as a key step forward for the group.
“We’re starting to get that balance where we can defend really strong… and we’re always going to find points with the class that we’ve got in attack,” Woolf said.
The Dolphins were tested throughout the contest, particularly during a sustained period of pressure from the Sharks in the second half, but their defensive resolve held firm.
“That’s what really good teams do they hang in during those periods and make sure it doesn’t become points,” he said.
Co-captain Katoa credited the Dolphins’ forward pack for laying the foundation, with their physicality and go-forward proving crucial.
“I thought our middles were outstanding… I challenged them to carry hard and get us on the front foot, and they did that really well,” Katoa said.
Dolphins: Round 3
Their efforts allowed the Dolphins to control field position and play consistently in attacking territory, building pressure that ultimately broke the Sharks late in the game.
Woolf said the performance would give the team confidence, particularly given the quality of the opposition and the challenge of playing away from home.
“It should give us some real belief… it gives us an idea of the different ways that we can win games,” he said.
With back-to-back wins secured, the Dolphins now turn their attention to Suncorp Stadium, where they will face the Broncos in Friday night’s highly anticipated XXXX Derby.
Woolf said the focus remains on continued improvement, but acknowledged the significance of the clash ahead.
“They’re the defending premiers, so there’s no better opportunity to show where we’re at,” he said.
For now, though, the Dolphins can take confidence from a dominant performance, one that showcased both their resilience and their attacking firepower.
