A dominant display from the visiting Cowboys silenced the derby home crowd as injuries and a 25-point defeat left Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins with questions to ponder.
Cowboys’ Zac Duybutt opened the round one clash scoring with a try within the first three minutes, a clever dummy created space as he finished easily.
MATCH CENTRE: Dolphins vs Cowboys live score, stats, video
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It was free flowing footy early on, new captain Tom Deardon powered home for a try right up the middle as the travelling Queensland side took a decisive 20-point lead into the break.
Injury soured an already disappointing performance for the Dolphins, Connelly Lemuelu dislocating his kneecap.
Cowboys were throwing the ball around and getting everyone involved, amassing six separate try scorers.
Dolphins’ new recruit Thomas Flegler and fellow forward Josh Kerr put up some resistance with trys a piece, but it wasn’t enough as Cowboys walked away with a 43-12 victory.
QUESTIONS FOR SUPER COACH BENNETT
A few crucial errors in defence cost the home side in uncharacteristic Wayne Bennett fashion.
To add salt in the wounds, forward Connelly Lemuelu suffered a dislocated kneecap injury during a clash late in the first half.
Scans will determine how long he will be on the sidelines and Lemuelu looked devastated on the bench as he iced the knee, while his side capitulated.
A major knee injury to enforcer Tom Gilbert prior to the season will only add to the selection headaches of the Redcliffe side.
High profile new recruit Herbie Farnworth also did not fire a shot at centre.
DRINKWATER ADDS SPARK TO ATTACK
The creative backs in Tom Drinkwater, Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden were too clever as they created countless scoring opportunities.
Drinkwater also saved a try in defence, doing it at both ends of the field in a best-on-ground performance.
“Cowboys are firing bullets into the Dolphins,” could be heard from the commentary box as the visitors shared the footy around in an entertaining, fast-paced attack.
SUNCORP SPECIALIST NANAI LIGHTS IT UP
Forward Jeremiah Nanai was powerful, he made strong tackles and finished off his hard work with a try early in the first half, after good service from dummy half Reece Robson.
Nanai had scored six tries in three matches at Suncorp Stadium and continued his love affair with the Brisbane venue.
Heilum Luki passed the HIA after a head clash and came back on in the second half to nail a crucial try while Valentine Holmes was perfect in conversions, nailing 7/7.
Cowboys host the Knights next Saturday, March 16 and the Dolphins will host the Dragons in Redcliffe on Sunday, March 17.
DOLPHINS 12 (HT) 18 (FT)
COWBOYS 31 (HT) 43 (FT)
TRYS Dolphins: Fleger, Kerr, Bostock. Cowboys: Duybutt 2, Feldt, Deardon, Nanai, Taulagi, Luki
POINTS Dolphins: Jamayne Isaako 6 Cowboys: Holmes 14, Townsend 1
INJURIES Dolphins: Connelly Lemuelu – dislocated kneecap. Cowboys: nil.
Suncorp Stadium, March 10
Relive the action in our blog below. If you can’t see it, click here.
MATCH PREVIEW
A Queensland derby wraps up the opening round of the season with the Dolphins hosting the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.
Both sides are 1-17 as per program.
The Dolphins had a red-hot start to their inaugural season, winning their first three games in 2023 but injuries tested their depth and the club ultimately finished 13th.
The Cowboys were a big disappointment last season after going from a preliminary final to missing the eight but that reality check may be exactly what they needed.
The team has stayed largely the same, however veteran Kyle Feldt has been recalled on the wing ahead of Semi Valemei.
The captaincy has been switched up though with Jason Taumalolo passing over the reins to Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, who will share the role in a new era for the club.
The Dolphins head into their second season in the NRL in a much better position having added Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler to their 17. The pair will making their official club debut in Sunday’s game, while Kodi Nikorima has beat young gun Isaiya Katoa to the No.6 jersey.
Both sides are reeling from season-ending injuries to key players with Dolphins fan favourite Tom Gilbert and Cowboys enforcer Coen Hess suffering ACL ruptures in trial games. Ray Stone will start at lock for Gilbert, while Jason Taumalolo shifts to prop to cover for Hess.
TEAMS
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone 14. Josh Kerr 15. Max Plath 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Mark Nicholls. 18th man: 18. Jarrod Wallace
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. 18th man: 19. Thomas Mikaele
Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys, live stream, score, stats, video, Zac Laybutt, Tom Flegler, penalty try – MASHAHER
A dominant display from the visiting Cowboys silenced the derby home crowd as injuries and a 25-point defeat left Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins with questions to ponder.
Cowboys’ Zac Duybutt opened the round one clash scoring with a try within the first three minutes, a clever dummy created space as he finished easily.
MATCH CENTRE: Dolphins vs Cowboys live score, stats, video
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
It was free flowing footy early on, new captain Tom Deardon powered home for a try right up the middle as the travelling Queensland side took a decisive 20-point lead into the break.
Injury soured an already disappointing performance for the Dolphins, Connelly Lemuelu dislocating his kneecap.
Cowboys were throwing the ball around and getting everyone involved, amassing six separate try scorers.
Dolphins’ new recruit Thomas Flegler and fellow forward Josh Kerr put up some resistance with trys a piece, but it wasn’t enough as Cowboys walked away with a 43-12 victory.
QUESTIONS FOR SUPER COACH BENNETT
A few crucial errors in defence cost the home side in uncharacteristic Wayne Bennett fashion.
To add salt in the wounds, forward Connelly Lemuelu suffered a dislocated kneecap injury during a clash late in the first half.
Scans will determine how long he will be on the sidelines and Lemuelu looked devastated on the bench as he iced the knee, while his side capitulated.
A major knee injury to enforcer Tom Gilbert prior to the season will only add to the selection headaches of the Redcliffe side.
High profile new recruit Herbie Farnworth also did not fire a shot at centre.
DRINKWATER ADDS SPARK TO ATTACK
The creative backs in Tom Drinkwater, Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden were too clever as they created countless scoring opportunities.
Drinkwater also saved a try in defence, doing it at both ends of the field in a best-on-ground performance.
“Cowboys are firing bullets into the Dolphins,” could be heard from the commentary box as the visitors shared the footy around in an entertaining, fast-paced attack.
SUNCORP SPECIALIST NANAI LIGHTS IT UP
Forward Jeremiah Nanai was powerful, he made strong tackles and finished off his hard work with a try early in the first half, after good service from dummy half Reece Robson.
Nanai had scored six tries in three matches at Suncorp Stadium and continued his love affair with the Brisbane venue.
Heilum Luki passed the HIA after a head clash and came back on in the second half to nail a crucial try while Valentine Holmes was perfect in conversions, nailing 7/7.
Cowboys host the Knights next Saturday, March 16 and the Dolphins will host the Dragons in Redcliffe on Sunday, March 17.
DOLPHINS 12 (HT) 18 (FT)
COWBOYS 31 (HT) 43 (FT)
TRYS Dolphins: Fleger, Kerr, Bostock. Cowboys: Duybutt 2, Feldt, Deardon, Nanai, Taulagi, Luki
POINTS Dolphins: Jamayne Isaako 6 Cowboys: Holmes 14, Townsend 1
INJURIES Dolphins: Connelly Lemuelu – dislocated kneecap. Cowboys: nil.
Suncorp Stadium, March 10
Relive the action in our blog below. If you can’t see it, click here.
MATCH PREVIEW
A Queensland derby wraps up the opening round of the season with the Dolphins hosting the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.
Both sides are 1-17 as per program.
The Dolphins had a red-hot start to their inaugural season, winning their first three games in 2023 but injuries tested their depth and the club ultimately finished 13th.
The Cowboys were a big disappointment last season after going from a preliminary final to missing the eight but that reality check may be exactly what they needed.
The team has stayed largely the same, however veteran Kyle Feldt has been recalled on the wing ahead of Semi Valemei.
The captaincy has been switched up though with Jason Taumalolo passing over the reins to Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, who will share the role in a new era for the club.
The Dolphins head into their second season in the NRL in a much better position having added Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler to their 17. The pair will making their official club debut in Sunday’s game, while Kodi Nikorima has beat young gun Isaiya Katoa to the No.6 jersey.
Both sides are reeling from season-ending injuries to key players with Dolphins fan favourite Tom Gilbert and Cowboys enforcer Coen Hess suffering ACL ruptures in trial games. Ray Stone will start at lock for Gilbert, while Jason Taumalolo shifts to prop to cover for Hess.
TEAMS
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone 14. Josh Kerr 15. Max Plath 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Mark Nicholls. 18th man: 18. Jarrod Wallace
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. 18th man: 19. Thomas Mikaele
Source Agencies