What began as a tough night for Jack Bostock ended in triumph, with the Dolphins winger’s two first half tries helping turn the momentum for his side.
Mirroring the fortunes of his team, Bostock made a few errors early in the game, one of which directly led to Phil Sami scoring to push the Titans to a 10-0 lead.
The 20-year-old refused to drop his head, earning the praise of his captain after scoring the two crucial tries to put the Dolphins ahead at the break and on the path to a 30-16 win.
“I thought it was a really good part of the game, we wanted to try and finish the half on top,” Jesse Bromwich said about Bostock’s second try in the last seconds of the first half.
“Even though we were a man down for 10 minutes, the back end of that half, I thought we finished that half on top.
“We had put a lot of effort out there, but things weren't going our way, but to be able to finish on top and then go out there and start the second half with the energy we had and the effort we had, that's why we won the game.”
Jack Bostock Try
For Bostock, the support of his team-mates, especially that of his fellow backs, helped him to shrug off his poor start and earn his confidence back, with fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow also helping set up his first career double.
“I gave him two last game, so he gave me two this week,” Bostock joked.
“I love playing beside him, he's great to play with.
“When Hammer's got the ball, all the defenders eyes are on him so he opens up the outside boys like Jamayne [Isaako], Herbie [Farnworth] and me and Jake [Averillo].
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Try
“He's done a lot of work in the pre-season on his catch-pass and things like that and it's showing on the field.
“(But) it was a tough start and to get the two tries probably helped me gain some confidence to go back into that second half and then the boys played really well tonight.
“To go on with the lead probably helped us at half-time and then just Wayne (coach Wayne Bennett) relayed the message to play our game and stick to our processes and then we'll win the game.
“(The support from the other backs) helped a lot. These boys, they're all they're all good boys and they helped me a lot with my confidence.
“Jamayne, Herbie, Hammer; all the back five they helped me out when I made those errors so that was good.”
Jack Bostock Try
Now seven games into his NRL career, Bostock played four games in the inaugural Dolphins season and worked hard to earn his place in the Round 1 side.
But the fact he is even a Dolphin at all is a quirk of fate sparked by a chance sighting by a future team-mate, but now he’s in the side he’s determined to make the most of his opportunities.
“Sean O’Sullivan actually, he saw me playing ball for the Steelers,” Bostock said when asked how he came to be a Dolphin after spending his junior days in the St George Illawarra system.
“I was playing at Penrith and he'd come out to watch Isaiya Katoa; he came out to watch him and Katoa didn't play, he had a broken hand I was versing his team and then we got a good win against them.
Titans v Dolphins – Round 4, 2024
“So then I think he called his old man [Dolphins head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan] and his old man called my manager and then I came up and met with Wayne and then once I met with Wayne, the decision was pretty much made.
“It's pretty coo how it all works out, isn't it?
“Sean always says he and his dad always have an argument that if I'm a half decent player, they'll claim me; and if I'm not, they'll both be blaming each other for who picked me.”
This week, the Dolphins return to Suncorp Stadium and will host Wests Tigers who are coached by Benji Marshall, who previous played with the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup when he was contracted to the Broncos under Bennett.
