Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 2 clash between the The Dolphins and the St George Illawarra Dragons.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
The Dolphins Vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Date: Sunday March 17, 6:15pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Jack Bostock, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Thomas Flegler, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Euan Aitken, 13. Max Plath, 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kenny Bromwich 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Jarrod Wallace, 18. Kurt Donoghoe, 19. Sean O’Sullivan, 20. Oryn Keeley, 21. Tesi Niu, 22. Mason Teague
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin, 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Luciano Leilua, 18. Viliami Fifita, 19. Christian Tuipulotu, 20. Jesse Marschke, 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 22. Hame Sele
Referee: Grant Atkins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Dolphins host the Dragons at their spiritual home of Kayo Stadium and will be looking to get their first win on the board for the year: and what better place to do it than in front of the home faithful? However, the Dragons will want to spoil the party for the home side and start their season with two wins on the trot.
The Dolphins were unable to replicate their hot start from last season and were put to the sword, conceding 43 points against a red-hot Cowboys side. Off-season recruits Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler both had very strong starts to their lives as Dolphins, with Flegler crashing over for a try and Farnworth getting his side’s sets off to a strong start with his powerful runs.
Many had predicted them to struggle this year, but the Dragons have quietened the doubters for now following a very impressive showing in round one with an emphatic win over the Titans. The Dragons looked like a whole new side under the tutelage of premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan, showing plenty of attacking prowess. If Flanagan can continue to get the best out of strike weapons Zac Lomax and Tyrell Sloan, the signs are looking good for fans of the Red V.
Both of these sides feature livewire fullbacks who will both want to stamp their mark on the game early and often. Sloan will look to build on his very impressive performance in round 1, where he bagged three tries, and show that he can be a consistent factor for the Dragons at NRL level. While for The Dolphins, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had a relatively quiet performance for a player of his calibre and coach Wayne Bennett will have him primed for a bounceback performance in this one. Expect both of these players to be a focal point for their respective side’s attacks.
in line-up news, The Dolphins have made a number of changes, with Max Plath, Euan Aitken, and Jake Averillo taking the places of Ray Stone, Connelly Lemuelu, and Tesi Niu respectively. Blake Lawrie returns for the Dragons after missing their round 1 clash and new signing Luciano Leilua makes his club debut off the bench.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 2 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Dragons by 10 points.
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