A piece of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has given the Dolphins a 28-24 lead against the Cronulla Sharks after 60 minutes.
After a resurgent Sharks side raced to a second half lead, it looked as if the momentum would be all with the home side until full-time.
Yet, fresh off a brilliant Origin I outing, Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored one of the greatest individual tries we’ll see all season, running the length of the field to breath life into his struggling side.
Five minutes earlier Will Kennedy brushed past Tabuai-Fidow for the Sharks’ fourth consecutive side. Kennedy’s try came off the back of a period of utter dominance from the Sharks, which saw them suffocate the Dolphins in their own half with stinging defence and great line speed.
MATCH CENTRE: Sharks v Dolphins, score, stats, highlights
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Having looked unlikely of winning at all in the opening quarter of the game, Cronulla’s turn around came off the back of minimise errors, a favourable penalty count and some strong defence.
For much of the second half, the Dolphins have failed to get out of their end, with the Sharks defence aiming up and physical imposing themselves on the Dolphins’ significantly smaller forward pack.
However, Tabuai-Fidow’s game-breaking try has inspired his side, who’ve aimed up defensively in every set since.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Nicho Hynes and the Cronulla Sharks will hope to make it back-to-back wins against top sides when they face the Dolphins at PointsBet Stadium.
In the first game of Beanies for Brain Cancer round, in support of the Mark Hughes Foundation, Craig Fitzgibbon’s side will be hoping to build on their impressively resilient victory over the Brisbane Broncos last time out.
Standing in their way is a Dolphins side fresh from a Round 14 bye and who are welcoming back Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Felise Kaufusi, as well as five-eighth Kodi Nikorima.
With Eels halfback Mitch Moses breathing down his neck for Origin selection, Hynes will need a massive game against the Dolphins to cement his place as the Blues’ No. 7 when Michael Maguire picks his Game I squad at the conclusion of Round 15.
Hynes’ kicking game was heavily scrutisined after the series opener in Sydney, with the Sharks halfback needing a better performance off the put to prove to Maguire, and his state, that he is the right man for the job.
When these sides last met in Round 10, 2023, the Dolphins convincingly won 36-16. Wayne Bennett will be hoping history will repeat itself, while Fitzgibbon will be hoping otherwise.
TEAMS
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Royce Hunt 18. Daniel Atkinson
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Kenny Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Oryn Keeley
Source Agencies
