DOLPHINS 36 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 16
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Suncorp Stadium, Sunday
THE Dolphins’ play-off ambitions are back on track after Jamayne Isaako added another 22 points to his league-leading tally.
Their 66-0 loss to Cronulla the previous week looks even more of a bizarre aberration after this swift return to form, which lifts them back up to fifth.
Tom Dearden, on his return from more than two months out injured, inspired North Queensland, who stay precariously positioned in eighth, into an early 10-0 lead.
He slipped under a defender to score inside five minutes, then provided for Jeremiah Nanai with a short kick.
The home side had plenty of opportunities to respond but had to wait until Isaako’s 31st-minute high-wire dash along the touchline to score their first points.
Kurt Donoghoe then slipped Felise Kaufusi in three minutes from half-time, with Isaako’s two conversions edging the Dolphins 12-10 ahead.
The impressive Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow provided Isaako’s second and Tom Gilbert smashed his way over to put Kristain Woolf’s side in firm command from the restart.
And while Scott Drinkwater’s try and goal gave the Cowboys’ brief hope, Max Plath and Connelly Lemuelu each found gaps in the middle to seal the result.
DOLPHINS: 1 Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Selwyn Cobbo, 18 Tevita Naufahu, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Brad Schneider, 8 Thomas Flegler, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Francis Molo, 11 Connelly Lemuelu, 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13 Morgan Knowles. Subs: 14 Kurt Donoghoe, 15 Max Plath, 16 Tom Gilbert, 17 Felise Kaufusi, 19 Sebastian Su’a (not used), 22 John Fineanganofo (not used)
Tries: Isaako (31, 44), Kaufusi (37), Gilbert (48), Plath (77), Lemuelu (79); Goals: Isaako 6/6
COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Braidon Burns, 3 Zac Laybutt, 4 Tom Chester, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Jaxon Purdue, 22 Tom Dearden, 8 Griffin Neame, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Heilum Luki, 12 Jeremiah Nanai, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs: 7 Jake Clifford (not used), 14 Soni Luke, 16 Matthew Lodge, 17 Coen Hess, 18 Sam McIntyre, 21 Ethan King (not used)
Tries: Dearden (5), Nanai (14), Drinkwater (70); Goals: Drinkwater 2/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 6-10, 12-10; 18-10, 24-10, 24-16, 30-16, 36-16
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow; Cowboys: Tom Dearden
Penalty count: 5-5; Half-time: 12-10; Referee: Grant Atkins; Attendance: 35,213