Round 26 vs. Brisbane Broncos Discussion

[Big Pete]

Dolphins vs. Brisbane Broncos
Suncorp Stadium, Saturday 31 August 2024
Kick Off: 5:30pm

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Sean O'Sullivan 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Kenny Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone

14. Mason Teague 15. Oryn Keeley 16. Tesi Niu 17. Kurt Donoghoe

18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Tevita Pangai Junior 20. Trai Fuller 21. Anthony Milford 22. Jeremy Marshall-King

1. Tristan Sailor 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Joshua Rogers 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Blake Mozer 15. Benjamin Te Kura 16. Josiah Karapani 17. Martin Taupau

18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Corey Oates 21. Cory Paix 22. Payne Haas​

 

[Big Pete]

I doubt that's the 17 Bennett runs out with. I'd expect to see Marshall-King (foot) and Pangai Jr (hamstring), it's just a matter of whether Max Plath (calf) or Ray Stone (neck) will be available for the clash.

I wonder if Bennett rolls the dice with his line-up? If the Dolphins were to go all-out attack you could see something along the lines of...

20. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 3. Jake Averillo 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Kenny Bromwich 22. Jeremy Marshall-King 19. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 9. Max Plath

6. Sean O'Sullivan 10. Mark Nicholls 13. Ray Stone 15. Oryn Keeley

It would certainly offer Bennett plenty of speed and skill which given the Broncos passive defence should allow the Dolphins to heap on the scoreboard pressure.

Worth noting that Teague, Keeley and Niu have been named for Week One of the QCup finals. You can't treat those selections as gospel, but it's certainly an interesting indication.

 

[Big Pete]

Looks like Bennett is going to go ahead with the changes I suggested.

Except Katoa will go to the bench after an unhappy performance against the Storm.

 

[League guru]

Looks like Bennett is going to go ahead with the changes I suggested.

Except Katoa will go to the bench after an unhappy performance against the Storm.

Interesting changes. Staggs and Mariner who don't always make the best defensive reads may have some difficulty defending the Hammer at centre.

 

[Big Pete]

Dolphins 40 (Jake Averillo 2, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2, Herbie Farnworth 2, Jamayne Isaako tries; Jamayne Isaako 6/7 goals) def. Brisbane Broncos 6

11-12

Phins Up!

The Dolphins have revitilised their season with an emphatic win over their local rivals in a historic win for the club.

After a disappointing loss to the Storm, the Dolphins laid the platform early, wiping the Broncos off the park early. They played harder, played faster and out-competed the Broncos time and time again.

The late changes by Bennett allowed the Dolphins to play a more expansive style. The first try came through the Dolphins shifting left and giving Tabuai-Fidow good early ball. Then they shifted right, drew Cobbo up and Herbie was able to sum up the situation easily for Isaako.

The only hiccup came through a controversial sin-bin against Kaufusi who was deemed to hit Reynolds late and high causing the Broncos skipper to come off for an HIA. However the Dolphins were easily able to defend the set, forcing a turn-over from Piakura before a nice set-piece saw Hamiso come in from the blind-side, create the extra-man and put Averillo over for a great set piece.

Still the loss of Kaufusi did eventually take it's toll with Carrigan responding with a soft try. The Dolphins were still on top but kept inviting the Broncos into the contest through silly errors. However when Tabuai-Fidow swooped on a Broncos mistake and ran the better part of 90m it was virtually one-way traffic.

Herbie Farnworth was brilliant in his first game against his former team, terrorising the Broncos, scoring two tries and setting two up in a brilliant performance from one of the best buys of 2024.

The scoreline actually flattered the Broncos. The Dolphins failed to convert all their opportunities but they didn't have to as they officially broke their duck against the Broncos and eliminated them from the 2024 competition.