LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
NRLQ Match Report: Dolphins Secure First Place with Convincing Win
On Sunday, Kayo Stadium witnessed the Dolphins triumph over the Titans with a score of 58-22, solidifying their position at the top of the NRLQ standings.
This victory keeps the Dolphins undefeated this season, despite a few last-minute lineup changes.
Before the game, hooker Braelan Marsh was sidelined, leading to Mitchell Rogers stepping in as the starting hooker.
Lachlan Buchbach was also brought onto the interchange bench to assist the team.
The Dolphins set an aggressive tone right from the opening kickoff.
Their forward pack went the distance on their initial set, culminating in a fifth-tackle kick from Jahrel Iselin-Jansen that found Brian Pouniu, who scored in the match's first minute.
Just four minutes later, Iselin-Jansen added to the score following another powerful attack, converting the Dolphins' lead to 12-0 after a Titans goal line dropout.
Winger Mereki Warradoo and fullback Seth Carpenter further increased the Dolphins' tally with back-to-back tries, giving them a notable lead of four converted tries before the Titans even got a chance to respond.
A penalty for dangerous contact against Dolphins lock Shaun Elara and a subsequent set restart allowed the Titans to enter a threatening field position.
This led to Harrison Hill scoring the Titans' first points from dummy half, marking a shift in momentum for the Titans.
Overall, the Dolphins showcased their dominance throughout the match, ultimately securing a commanding victory while reinforcing their status as a formidable team in the competition.