DOLPHINS 34 PARRAMATTA EELS 16
CALLUM WALKER, Suncorp Stadium, Friday
THE DOLPHINS continue to back up their reputation as one of the most exciting NRL sides to watch with a devastating flurry of attacking prowess against Parramatta.
Herbie Farnworth was on fire whilst Max Plath was his usual industrious self as the Eels proved no match for the top-four hunting Dolphins.
It was, however, the Eels that broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Ronald Volkman spotted a gap out of dummy-half to crash over.
And when Brian Kelly took a sumptuous Will Penisini offload to cross in the corner, eyebrows were raised.
However, the Dolphins hit back from that early storm with a Farnworth effort before Selwyn Cobbo finished off a stunning move in the corner.
The comeback was complete four minutes before the break, Jack Bostock rising highest to an Isaiya Katoa kick and then offloading to Jamayne Isaako.
Isaako grabbed a second shortly after half-time, with Plath selling an outrageous dummy to cross on the hour and make it 28-10.
Kelma Tuilagi did respond late on for the Eels, but Farnworth put the icing on the Dolphins’ cake one minute from time.
DOLPHINS: 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Jack Bostock, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Selwyn Cobbo, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Isaiya Katoa, 8 Thomas Flegler, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Tom Gilbert, 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 17 Brian Pouniu, 13 Morgan Knowles. Subs: 11 Max Plath, 14 Ray Stone, 15 Francis Molo, 16 Felise Kaufusi, 18 Brad Schneider (not used), 19 Jake Averillo (not used)
Tries: Farnworth (25, 79), Cobbo (29), Isaako (36, 48), Plath (59); Goals: Isaako 5/6
EELS: 18 Sean Russell, 2 Brian Kelly, 1 Apa Twidle, 3 Will Penisini, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ronald Volkman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Luca Moretti, 9 Tallyn Da Silva, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Jack Williams, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 15 Saxon Pryke. Subs: 4 Jordan Samrani (not used), 13 Jack De Belin (not used), 14 Harrison Edwards, 16 Teancum Brown, 17 Jezaiah Funa, 19 Kelma Tuilagi
Tries: Volkman (7), Kelly (20), Tuilagi (71); Goals: Moses 2/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 6-10, 12-10, 16-10; 22-10, 28-10, 28-16, 34-16
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dolphins: Herbie Farnworth; Eels: Will Penisini
Penalty count: 2-6; Half-time: 16-10; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Attendance: 24,728