ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 22 DOLPHINS 28
TOM SMITH, WIN Stadium, Saturday

DOLPHINS skipper Isaiya Katoa made a successful return from a wrist injury in his side’s victory over St George Illawarra. 

Kristian Woolf brought the halfback into his line-up shortly before kick-off, as the Phins repelled the determined Dragons to stay in the hunt for a top-four berth. Winger Selwyn Cobbo starred with two tries. 

Now condemned to their maiden wooden spoon as a joint venture, Saints lost enforcer Toby Couchman to a head-injury assessment but tested the Queenslanders until the final whistle. 

Referee Kieren Irons officiated his first NRL game. 

Connelly Lemuelu’s offload released Kodi Nikorima to set up the opening try to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow after five minutes, although Setu Tu soon struck back up the other end. 

Valentine Holmes sent Tyrell Sloan into the left corner to put the Dragons in front. 

But a pair of Herbie Farnworth offloads – the first to the runaway Cobbo, the second to Ray Stone from close range – secured the Dolphins’ advantage at the break. 

Cobbo’s second gave the Phins some breathing room early in the second half. 

Clint Gutherson finished a long-range try to keep St George Illawarra in touch, although Thomas Flegler’s barge-over following a contentious non-call of an apparent knock-on restored the visitors’ cushion. 

The outstanding Ryan Couchman scored his maiden NRL try late, but there was no miracle fightback. 

DRAGONS: 1 Clinton Gutherson, 2 Setu Tu, 4 Valentine Holmes, 18 Moses Suli, 5 Tyrell Sloan, 19 Lyhkan King-Togia, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 6 Daniel Atkinson (not used), 14 Jacob Liddle, 15 Luciano Leilua (not used), 16 Josh Kerr, 17 Jacob Halangahu, 20 Emre Guler 

Tries: Tu (12), Sloan (21), Gutherson (62), R Couchman (78); Goals: Holmes 3/4 

DOLPHINS: 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Jack Bostock, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Selwyn Cobbo, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 22 Isaiya Katoa, 8 Thomas Flegler, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Francis Molo, 11 Connelly Lemuelu, 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13 Morgan Knowles. Subs: 7 Brad Schneider (not used), 14 Kurt Donoghoe, 15 Max Plath, 16 Tom Gilbert, 17 Felise Kaufusi (not used), 18 Ray Stone 

Tries: Tabuai-Fidow (6), Cobbo (25, 54), Stone (35), Flegler (70); Goals: Isaako 4/5 

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 10-6, 10-10, 10-16; 10-22, 16-22, 16-28, 22-28 

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Ryan Couchman; Dolphins: Selwyn Cobbo 

Penalty count: 6-5; Half-time: 10-16; Referee: Kieren Irons; Attendance: 9,218