A strong performance by the Dolphins has seen them claim victory at their spiritual home in Redcliffe.
Result
The Dolphins 26
Tries: Jamayne Isaako 2 (21, 49), Mark Nicholls (24), Anthony Milford (27)
Goals: Jamayne Isaako 5 (23, 26, 29, 51, 75)
St George Illawarra Dragons 12
Tries: Jack Bird (5), Toby Couchman (39)
Goals: Zac Lomax 2 (4, 40)
Report
The Dolphins have marked Jamayne Isaako’s 100th first grade game in style, defeating the St George Illawarra Dragons 26-12 at in front of 10,047 fans at Kayo Stadium.
Anthony Milford starred, while Isaako registered 18 points from two tries and five goals as the Dolphins maintained their perfect record at their spiritual Redcliffe home.
Despite the result, it was the Dragons who started stronger. Zac Lomax opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty goal after Jeremy Marshall-King was ruled to have made dangerous contact on the kicker.
Talatau Amone looked to have scored the first try, however the decision was overturned by the Bunker after the attempted tackle by Kenny Bromwich was found to have been completed.
It made little difference though as Jack Bird went over shortly after, copping a high shot from Kodi Nikorima in the process. The Bunker deemed the contact not worthy of a potential 8-point try, leaving the score at 6-0 after Lomax missed the conversion.
Momentum in the match slowly started to turn the Dolphins way in the middle of the half, with several strong sets eventually leading to a try to Isaako after he flew high to take a Milford bomb. He converted his own try to even the scores at 6-all.
They followed points with another strong set, advancing down the field before Mark Nicholls strolled past the defence to score a simple try next to the posts.
The Dragons lost stand-in captain Jack de Belin to the sin bin due to a cannonball tackle after previous warning from referee Adam Gee. The penalty put the Dolphins into attacking range again and they capitalised when Milford dummied and sliced through to score in the corner. Isaako converted from the right-hand sideline to push the score to 18-6.
The Dragons got one back in the dying seconds of the half, with young back rower Toby Couchman crossing for the second try of his fledgling career. Lomax converted to reduce the deficit to 18-12 at the break.
A strong kick return by Nikorima put the Dolphins into attacking range early in the second half, quickly leading to Isaako’s second try. He converted to push the Dolphins lead back to 12.
Both sides continued to probe, however neither could find another try. A penalty goal to Isaako in the dying minutes pushed the Dolphins out to a 26-12 victory.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Anthony Milford (Dolphins)
2 – Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)
1 – Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins)