DOLPHINS 40 BRISBANE BRONCOS 32
CALLUM WALKER, Suncorp Stadium, Saturday
YOU had to see it to believe it.
It was a result that was scarcely believable after 20 minutes, but the Dolphins recovered from a 24-0 deficit to pummel Queensland rivals Brisbane in front of the biggest NRL crowd of the season.
A first-half hat-trick from Ezra Mam, along with efforts from Deine Mariner and Xavier Willison and five perfect conversions off the boot of Reece Walsh should have been enough for the Broncos to take home the two points.
However, Michael Maguire’s side registered just a Walsh penalty goal in the second-half as they simply couldn’t live with the power and pace of the Dolphins – once they got going.
24-0 down after 21 minutes, the Dolphins finally registered two quick-fire tries of their own through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Connelly Lemuelu before Jamayne Isaako brought Kristian Woolf’s men back to within six at 24-18.
Mam’s third restored Brisbane’ 12-point lead but Herbie Farnworth’s effort on the hooter made the second-half all the more intriguing.
As it was, Lemuelu levelled proceedings on 51 minutes, with Walsh edging the Broncos into a two-point lead with a penalty on the hour.
However, late scores from Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo ensured the Dolphins were victorious in a quite remarkable game.
DOLPHINS: 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Jack Bostock, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Selwyn Cobbo, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Isaiya Katoa, 8 Tom 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 Brad Schneider (not used), 20 Brian Pouniu (not used)
Tries: Tabuai-Fidow (25, 68), Lemuelu (28, 51), Isaako (34), Farnworth (40), Cobbo (72); Goals: Isaako 6/7
BRONCOS: 1 Reece Walsh, 2 Josiah Karapani, 3 Kotoni Staggs, 4 Deine Mariner, 5 Grant Anderson, 6 Ezra Mam, 7 Tom Duffy, 8 Xavier Willison, 9 Billy Walters, 10 Payne Haas, 11 Jaiyden Hunt, 12 Jordan Riki, 13 Pat Carrigan. Subs: 14 Ben Hunt (not used), 15 Va’a Semu, 16 Ben Talty, 17 Gehamat Shibasaki, 18 Jack Gosiewski (not used), 20 Blake Mozer
Tries: Mam (4, 7, 36), Mariner (14), Willison (21); Goals: Walsh 6/6
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-24, 6-24, 12-24, 18-24, 18-30, 24-30; 30-30, 30-32, 36-32, 40-32
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dolphins: Connelly Lemuelu; Broncos: Ezra Mam
Penalty count: 6-4; Half-time: 24-30; Referee: Todd Smith; Attendance: 50,188