Round 6 vs. North Queensland Cowboys Discussion

[Big Pete]

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Dolphins
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Friday 7 April 2023
Kick Off: 8:00pm

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Brendan Elliot 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Mitchell Dunn 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Coen Hess 12. Griffin Neame 13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Jake Granville 15. Tomas Chester 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Riley Price

18. Ben Hampton 19. Jack Gosiewski 20. Taniela Sadrugu 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Jake Bourke

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Edrick Lee 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Herman Ese'ese 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert

14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Kurt Donoghoe

18. Poasa Faamausili 19. Mason Teague 20. JJ Collins 21. Jack Bostock 22. Robert Jennings​

 

[Big Pete]

I'm curious to see how the Dolphins respond after their poor showing against the Dragons.

The first objective will be deciding who comes in for Milford. I'd imagine Kodi Nikorima would be the most sensible option but they do have Kurt Donoghue and Cody Hunter as potential alternatives. If Bennett does go with Nikorima, I'd expect the Dolphins to play a direct style of football, with Nikorima constantly challenging the A defenders and linking with Lemuelu as much as possible.

The Cowboys are a tough nut to crack. They love to get in the grind and push off their line and spoil the play as much as possible. What opposition teams are doing now is going for the early kick for the second-rows while the fullback is out of play for points. I'd expect the Dolphins to be onto this and will have the Hammer scouting for opportunities all night long.

I thought the Dolphins discipline was very poor. It was really uncharacteristic of Bennett coached side and I'd expect to see some movement in the front row.

 

[Big Pete]

Teams are in.

Edrick Lee will play his first game for the Dolphins. Edrick has been making his comeback through the Central Queensland Capras in recent weeks. His inclusion will give the halves the opportunity to put through a cross-field kick.

Nikorima and Donoghoe also come into the side. For weeks Bennett has struggled to bring Kurt onto the field and in the one game where he needed him, he was playing for the Capras. Bennett has clearly learned his lesson and brought him back at the expense of Teague who could consider himself unlucky.

With Teague, I believe Bennett is just managing his minutes. The Queensland Cup has the Easter Long weekend off, so it's a good time to let the youngster recharge after a promising stint in first grade.

The Cowboys welcome back Drinkwater and Cotter for the clash. The Cows sorely missed both players against the Bulldogs and I'm sure they'll be looking to blow the Dolphins off the park early. That opening 30 is going to be crucial and the Dolphins are going to have to be at their gritty best.

Hopefully the forwards step up. In particular I'd like to see better efforts from Ese'ese and J. Wallace. It's so frustrating following Wallace, he was one of the best forwards for either side in the Battle of Brisbane, but he really let the team down against the Dragons. Hopefully he's up for it against an old rival club.

 

[Big Pete]

Dolphins 32 (Jamayne Isaako 3, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2, Tom Gilbert tries; Jamayne Isaako 4/7 goals) def. North Queensland Cowboys 22

Phins Up!

4-2

The Dolphins have bounced back to upset the Cowboys in Townsville. The Cowboys themselves were coming off a heart-breaking golden point loss but were expected to be bouyed by the inclusion of Scott Drinkwater. However it was the Dolphins who struck first blood with the Dolphins putting replacement winger Brendan Eliot under the pump.

Isaako walked away with 3 tries, including a spectacular grab off a pin-point Isaiya Katoa kick before putting it down in the one motion.

The Dolphins were relentless in the first half and the Cowboys struggled to contain their ball movement. it tolled on the scoreboard, with the Dolphins racking up 26-6 before the Cowboys struck back in the shadow of half-time.

The second half became a slog for the Dolphins. They struggled to get through their sets and found themselves defending their line for a number of sets. When Valentine Holmes dragged three defenders over the line to make it a 4 point ball-game with 10 minutes to go, it appeared the Cowboys were going to finish over the top.

However in a stroke of fortune, the Dolphins were able to turn the game on it's head. It appeared Isaiya Katoa was going to get caught on the last before he got a scrappy offload away to Connelly Lemuelu. Lemuelu was able to put up a shallow kick, the Dolphins were able to keep it alive and in the ensuing scramble Brendan Eliot fouled Hamiso gifting the Dolphins a penalty and leaving the Cowboys a man short with 5 minutes to play.

The Cowboys tried a number of risky plays but to no avail as the Hammer weaved his way over the try line to put the game to bed.

 

[Puff]

Big win.

Spine played awesome.

my only issue was PF18. Ex dragon that I know well. He turned the game in favour of the cowboys with bad hands. He was similar at the dragons. I worry when he is on.

 

[MugaB]

Big win.

Spine played awesome.

my only issue was PF18. Ex dragon that I know well. He turned the game in favour of the cowboys with bad hands. He was similar at the dragons. I worry when he is on.

Here's me not worrying with Isaya Katoa in at 7, and kodi at 6, definitely a great combo, lets Katoa run the side, and kodi free to do his thing, when the attack was on they were magnificent, downside today was all the butter sandwiches all the props had for lunch... the score could have got to 50, had they not dropped so much ball... nearly every forward had butterfingers, its back to digging bellamy deep holes for the forward pack this week

 

[Puff]

Yeah, I think I posted in another thread I prefer Kodi over milf. Let’s hope he doesn’t miss time for that tackle.

 

[to_ddeath]

Big win.

Spine played awesome.

my only issue was PF18. Ex dragon that I know well. He turned the game in favour of the cowboys with bad hands. He was similar at the dragons. I worry when he is on.

Need some troops back to push him down the pecking order…was his usual useless self. Lucky they kept their heads in the game when it counted

 

[Puff]

Watched the dragons game.

same shit.

thank god for he dolphins.

I watch katoa and think he is an awesome youngster. Going to be special. Then I watch Amone, Sullivan and co. And I can’t for the life of me see what other dragon supporters see in them