DOLPHINS 48 SYDNEY ROOSTERS 10
TOM SMITH, Suncorp Stadium, Friday

TRAI FULLER cashed in on his rare opportunity at fullback to help the Dolphins belt the undermanned Roosters.

Both sides lost a stack of stars to State of Origin duty, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s absence inviting Fuller to fill the number-one jumper. 

And the speedster’s four-pointer straight after half-time sparked a six-try second-half onslaught as Kristian Woolf’s men ran riot. 

Phins skipper Isaiya Katoa steered the ship and Tevita Naufahu posed a constant threat on the left wing. 

Of the three NRL debutants Trent Robinson named, Rex Bassingthwaighte and Toby Rodwell scored tries, while Reece Foley succumbed to a head-injury assessment in the first half. Stand-off Hugo Savala also failed an HIA on a brutal night for the visitors. 

The result extends the Dolphins’ winning streak to six matches and condemns the Roosters to a third loss from their past four starts. 

These two sides loom as likely challengers to Penrith’s dominance come the pointy end of the season, but their team sheets were ravaged by Origin absences. 

The Phins lost Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler, Max Plath and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to Queensland duty, while the Chooks went in without Blues James Tedesco, Reece Robson, Victor Radley and Mark Nawaqanitawase plus Maroons Robert Toia, Sam Walker and Lindsay Collins. 

The personnel issues sharpened the focus on the battle of the playmakers between 22-year-old Katoa and 37-year-old Daly Cherry-Evans, who captained his new club for the first time. 

Extra responsibility fell on ex-Origin reps Felise Kaufusi and Francis Molo for the hosts and Angus Crichton, Connor Watson and Spencer Leniu for the visitors. 

The Roosters did well to hang in the fight before the break, despite losing Foley and Savala. 

Katoa dummied his way over from close range to open the scoring on 14 minutes, then a Naufahu line break led to the Phins’ second with Herbie Farnworth sliding into the left corner. 

The hosts controlled possession as the rain tumbled, and they cashed in on the tired and inexperienced Roosters after the restart. 

Fuller followed up Oryn Keeley’s line break to kick off the rout, then Katoa delivered a deft chip kick early in the tackle count to gift Kodi Nikorima four points. 

Jeremy Marshall-King caught the under-siege Roosters defence napping from dummy-half beneath the uprights. 

And Connelly Lemuelu’s try – the result of a Farnworth break down the left edge – combined with Jamayne Isaako’s flawless goal-kicking made it 36-0.

The Sydney club finally had something to smile about when Bassingthwaighte collected a mishandled Cherry-Evans bomb. 

The Queenslanders added their most spectacular try next, as Naufahu sped down the left touchline then launched an inch-perfect kick into the path of Brad Schneider to score. 

But Naufahu’s try-saving tackle on a runaway Cody Ramsey inches from a length-of-the-field try was perhaps even more thrilling.

Rodwell scampered over for his maiden try in response, although Naufahu scored a richly-deserved four-pointer with five minutes left to give the Phins the last laugh.

GAMESTAR: Filling in for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback, Trai Fuller racked up a dizzying 303 running metres and grabbed a try.

GAMEBREAKER: Winger Tevita Naufahu finished his outstanding night with the Dolphins’ eighth try in the 75th minute.

MATCHFACTS

DOLPHINS
1 Trai Fuller
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Jack Bostock
4 Herbie Farnworth
5 Tevita Naufahu
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Isaiya Katoa
8 Felise Kaufusi
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Francis Molo
11 Connelly Lemuelu
12 Oryn Keeley
13 Morgan Knowles
Subs
14 Brad Schneider
15 Kurt Donoghoe
16 Tom Gilbert
17 Ray Stone
18 Sebastian Su’a (not used)
19 Brian Pouniu (not used)

Tries: Katoa (14), Farnworth (19), Fuller (44), Nikorima (49), Marshall-King (53), Lemuelu (57), Schneider (63), Naufahu (75)
Goals: Isaako 7/7, Katoa 1/1

ROOSTERS
1 Cody Ramsey
5 Tommy Talau
2 Billy Smith
3 Reece Foley
17 Rex Bassingthwaighte
6 Hugo Savala
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Naufahu Whyte
9 Connor Watson
10 Spencer Leniu
11 Angus Crichton
12 Siua Wong
13 Salesi Foketi
Subs
4 Egan Butcher
14 Benaiah Ioelu
15 Taylor Losalu (not used)
16 Nat Butcher
20 Junior Tupou
21 Toby Rodwell

Tries: Bassingthwaighte (60), Rodwell (71)
Goals: Rodwell 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0; 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 36-0, 36-4, 42-4, 42-10, 48-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dolphins: Isaiya Katoa; Roosters: Angus Crichton

Penalty count: 5-2
Half-time: 12-0
Referee: Todd Smith
Attendance: 20,687