The Dolphins become the third side in the NRL era to start their franchise with two straight wins after winning against the Raiders at Kayo Stadium.
Result
Dolphins 20
Tries: (3) Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 38th, 77th; Tom Gilbert 62nd
Goals: (4) Jamayne Isaako 39th, 64th, 70th, 78th
Canberra Raiders 14
Tries: (2) Jack Wighton 13th; Nick Cotric 28th
Goals: (3) Jamal Fogarty 30th, 34th, 74th
Report
The Dolphins played their first home game at their spiritual home, Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe. They were aiming to become the third side to win their first two games at the start of their franchise. Canberra was looking to avenge their one-point defeat in Townsville a week earlier and would have to do it without injured prop Josh Papali’i and suspended Jordan Rapana.
In heavy, wet conditions, things looked bright for the Raiders early as it appeared the Dolphins were slightly hungover from their first-round win against the Roosters. Jack Wighton was outstanding in the opening forty minutes in scoring the opening try and sending the Raiders out to a twelve-point lead before Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored two minutes from the break to reduce the lead to six points.
After a stalemate in the opening twenty minutes after half-time, the game came alive with a contentious try call going the home side’s way after it was judged Tom Gilbert legally bumped the Raiders defender out of the way after chasing Sean O’Sullivan’s kick in-goal.
With scores level at twelve apiece, Hudson Young became the second player sin-binned for the match after failing to mark up square on his own line with Tabuai-Fidow held up in goal. The Dolphins converted the penalty, but their lead was short lived when another controversial decision saw Sean O’Sullivan given ten minutes for taking out Corey Harawira-Naera and Jamal Fogarty added the penalty conversion.
At fourteen all and with seven minutes to play, the luck of the gods was with the Dolphins and Tabuai-Fidow scored the matchwinner to hand his side back-to-back wins.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
2 – Tom Gilbert (Dolphins)
1 – Jack Wighton (Raiders)
