LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Dolphins began their NRLQ Under 20's campaign with an 18-point win against the Titans at CBUS Super Stadium last Saturday.
Captain Lewis Symonds set a strong tone right from the kick-off, advancing aggressively into the defensive line.
In the early stages, both teams employed hard running and solid defense in challenging wet conditions.
However, the Dolphins faced an early setback when winger LJ Nonu sustained a leg injury in the 10th minute, prompting Head Coach Scott Murray to make a tactical shift by substituting Kilarney Lavender to fill the gap in the back line.
The initial twenty minutes were characterized by intense competition, with no scores until Dolphins centre James Walsh broke the stalemate.
He skillfully stepped inside his defender on the left, putting the Dolphins ahead 4-0.
The Titans quickly countered, creating consecutive attacking sets near the Dolphins' try line and testing their defense.
Despite the Dolphins' efforts to maintain composure in the wet weather, they struggled with handling errors, which led to turnovers.
A critical moment came when Titans bench forward Taylan To'a managed to strip the ball during a Dolphins' attack, allowing him to score and give the Titans a 6-4 lead with just five minutes remaining in the first half.