2024 Round 2 Dolphins v St George Illawarra – DOLPHINS 38 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 0. The one-minute match report, giving you the bare minimum in the bare minimum of time.
The Dolphins opened up their winning account for the 2024 NRL with a 38-0 thrashing of St George Illawarra Dragons on the hallowed turf of Kayo Stadium aka Dolphin Oval.
There wasn’t much in the first half, except for a quick burst of two tries in the 5th and 9th minutes. The first try came from nowhere as winger Jack Bostock making a break catching a bomb, and simply offloaded to The Hammer who sped away to his and the crowd’s great delight. It was to put the Dolphins fullback in a good mood for the rest of the afternoon. The second try came from a cross field kick from Kodi Nikorima to Jamayne Isaako when Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa decided against jumping for the ball, allowing Isaako to catch and simply place the ball down.
There wasn’t much more from Kodi Nikorima after that as he left the field for an HIA and failed. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King also left the field for a HIA after his head was on the receiving end of a full blooded downfield kick from Ben Hunt. Hunt showed admirable care for his opponent. But thankfully supercoach Wayne Bennett made a pre game switch to bring in Kurt Donoghoe in place of Kenny Bromwich as the Dolphins were temporarily without a hooker and a five eighth.
St George Illawarra tried their best to break through the Dolphins defense in the first half, and fullback Tyrell Sloan was lively throughout, but the half time score was 12-0 but you felt it was reasonably even going into the break.
Dolphins fans needn’t have worried though, as the Dolphins piled on the tries in the second half at a steady rate. The Hammer grabbed himself a hattrick to give him a confidence boost after an ordinary day out in Round 1. Work horses Jeremy Marshall-King and Mark Nicholls were rewarded with second half tries and new recruit Jake Averillo celebrated his Dolphins debut with a four pointer also.
One moment that shouldn’t be lost among the try scoring was the huge defensive play in the dying minute from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to stop the Dragons scoring a late consolation try. The fullback’s efforts ensured a clean sheet for the Dolphins for the first time.
FINAL THOUGHT:
It was the kind of performance that was more expected from the Dolphins after their gallant first season, coping with a loss to a key position like Five Eighth. As ever, the players stood up, and the match will give Isiaya Katoa some confidence going forward after being left out in Round 1.
New recruits Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo had fine games, and the return of Euan Aitken and Jarrod Wallace provided something missing in Round 1. It always helps to have The Hammer back in fine form too, as does having a charging Josh Kerr. And Wayne Bennett’s decision to pick and stick with Jack Bostock looks like it will have season long benefits for the Dolphins and more.
All told it was a better squad for Round 2 and they played better accordingly. And are turning Kayo Stadium into a mini-fortress.
Courtesy of nrl.com
Sunday’s win over St George Illawarra saw the Dolphins keep their first clean sheet in their existence. Of course this means it is their lowest total points conceded. But even better is the 38 points they scored is also a new record. Talk about a turnaround from Round 1.
The most recent new team to enter in the NRL – Gold Coast Titans also kept a team scoreless in their second season, but it was June not March. Hard to believe the Titans first zero points conceded was against Melbourne.
Josh Kerr was the only forward in the top seven for run metres in the Dolphins v Dragons clash, and he came from the bench.
Dolphins are 3/4 at Kayo Stadium and their only loss was a gallant one against eventual Premier and NRL juggernaut Penrith.
For those who like a wager keep this in mind. The last three Dolphins games at Kayo Stadium have seen exactly 38 total points scored.
St George Illawarra have lost eight in a row on Sunday.
