2024 NRL Round 5 Dolphins v Wests Tigers – DOLPHINS 26 WESTS TIGERS 16. The one-minute match report – giving you the bare minimum NRL round up in the bare minimum of time.
The Dolphins reclaim their position top of the NRL ladder after a hard fought win over a resilient Wests Tigers and barring a win for the Cowboys tomorrow of 18 points or more, the Dolphins will remain on top of the ladder for a second straight round.
The win came with a price, with injuries to both of their off-season Broncos signings Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler, coincidentally with the Broncos the next opponent.
Dolphins first half was almost perfect, taking a 14-0 lead to the break, with minimal errors and penalties given. Isaiya Katoa opened the scoring in the 4th minute supporting on the inside of Jack Bostock sideline break courtesy of a beautiful Kodi Nikorima cutout pass. In between two penalty goals was the Dolphins showing some real backbone keeping the Tigers scoreless after a sustained period of attacking their line.
After successfully holding out the Tigers, Dolphins scored their second try with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow backing up perfectly after Felise Kaufusi sliced through the Tigers defence on the halfway line, having just enough fuel left to find The Hammer, who scored his fifth try of the season.
Two tries to Tigers centre Solomona Faataape in the first 15 minutes after the break saw the Dolphins lead cut to just four points, but fears of an in-form Tigers over-powering the Dolphins were cooled when a Katoa grubber found a diving Kodi Nikorima, and Kenny Bromwich was on hand to capitalise on a break from dummy half from Jeremy Marshall-King. Alex Seyfarth scored in the 72nd minute, but the Dolphins had the Tigers covered and re-took the top of the table position they carried in Round 5.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
How good for the Dolphins to return to the top of the table. Whilst a harder run against top eight teams from 2024 is just ahead, the way they have rebounded from an opening round shocker against the Cowboys has been remarkable. Not just the winning, but the errors and penalties are reducing and the attack is getting better. Just in time for the big clash next week against the Broncos.
Signing Isaiya Katoa to the Dolphins for their debut season was a masterstroke and the recent contract extension may prove to be the same as the halfback has shone since and produced arguably his best effort for the Dolphins. His kicking game was spot on all night, and he was lively in attack in addition to being as solid as ever in attack.
Talking of best efforts, Kenny Bromwich had one of his best games for the club against the Tigers. He has had to be patient in recent weeks, being named 18th man for the last two weeks, but in a good sign for team harmony he put in a big shift after starting at lock. He was rewarded for his efforts with his first try of the season, backing up nicely after a Jeremy Marshall-King break. Players stepping up after being left out is a good sign of club culture and they’re going to need it if the injury list continues to grow.
Another player who has come back from missing out earlier in the season was Jake Averillo, who like the men above probably had his best game of the season against the Tigers.
Courtesy of nrl.com
BEST OF STATS
Dolphins actually made fewer Run Metres and Post Contact Metres than the Tigers despite victory. Their Run Metres total of 1,422 is in the bottom ten for a single team/round effort this season, and the lowest total while still winning the game.
Dolphins are W3 L1 at Suncorp Stadium on a Saturday. It’s now W3 L3 as the home side anywhere on a Saturday.
It’s also now three wins in a row on a Saturday.
Coincidentally, the last (and only) time the Dolphins won three games in a row, they played the Broncos the next week.
Wests Tigers have lost their last five away on a Saturday.
