The Dolphins have overcome a sluggish start to celebrate a 44-12 win over the Bulldogs on the back of a hat-trick from Jamayne Isaako at Suncorp Stadium.
The Bulldogs dominated possession and field position in the opening 20 minutes on Thursday night, at one stage enjoying a 12-4 lead against the ill-disciplined home side.
An efficient Dolphins made the most of their chances, then took the lead into half-time thanks to Isaako’s second try on the back of a late Jacob Preston sin bin.
The momentum continued into the second half as the Dolphins ran rampant across the park, rarely giving up the ball to their adversaries.
Jeremy Marshall-King celebrated his return with a try as the home side kept the Bulldogs out in the second half, as Jamayne Isaako ended the game with a 24-point haul.
Dolphins v Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium
Match: Dolphins v Bulldogs
Round 10 -
home Team
Dolphins
9th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
13th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Press conferences
Dolphins: Round 10
Bulldogs: Round 10
Unheralded Dolphin: While every member of the Dolphins back five ran for more than 100 metres gained - and Jamayne Isaako 257 metres - it was Tom Gilbert who had an enormous impact off the bench to swing the momentum in the first half. The Maroons State of Origin hopeful had 123 metres gained from 14 runs and 26 tackles in just 37 minutes in a timely reminder of his talents.
Full-time: The Dolphins keep the Bulldogs out for the second half, romping to a 44-12 win.
80th min: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is sent to the sin bin for being deliberately offside on a Bulldogs' quick tap.
78th min: Selwyn Cobbo runs 50 metres down the sideline, brushing off Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey on his way to the line to secure his second try of the game an extend the Dolphins' lead. Dolphins 44-12
Selwyn Cobbo Try
72nd min: After a strong kick return from Enari Tuala sets up a Bulldogs attacking set, Sam Hughes gets close to a try but is held up.
67th min: On the back of another penalty for a late tackle, Isaiya Katoa bounces back and wows with a stunning double-pump pass for Kodi Nikorima, who strolls through untouched to score. Jamayne Isaako converts from in front. Dolphins 38-12
Kodi Nikorima Try
61st min: Jamayne Isaako threatens to score a fourth but converts his dive for the try line into a hook pass to Jack Bostock, who just holds on to dot the ball down. Isaako converts from the sideline. Dolphins 32-12
Jack Bostock Try
Crowd: 16,143
57th min: On the back of multiple sets on the Dolphins' line, Jeremy Marshall-King celebrates his return from a knee injury with a try from dummy-half. Jamayne Isaako slots his easiest conversion of the night. Dolphins 26-12
Jeremy Marshall-King Try
54th min: The Dolphins mount the pressure on the Bulldogs, making easy metres up field and sealing it with a repeat set from a dropout.
46th min: Jamayne Isaako has spiders on him! The Dolphins winger snaps up a cutout pass from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and beats the would-be tackles of three defenders to notch a hat-trick. After making his kicking angle a little easier, Isaako make no mistake. Dolphins 20-12
Jamayne Isaako 3rd Try
42nd min: The Dolphins start the second half like they finished the first half as Connelly Lemuelu breaks through, finding Selwyn Cobbo, but Enari Tuala does just enough to force the error.
Half-time: The Dolphins go into the sheds as surprise leaders after taking advantage of their few attacking opportunities. The Bulldogs dominated possession and field position early but could only find two tries, with the home side suffering a clunky, error-riddled start. The Dolphins broke up the Bulldogs' momentum in their rare opportunities, capitalising on a late Jacob Preston sin bin for a 14-12 lead.
Jamayne Isaako 2nd Try
40th min: The 12-man Bulldogs are made to pay the price, with Jamayne Isaako receiving a bullet cutout pass from Kodi Nikorima before a flamboyant dive to finish. Isaako gets his first conversion of the night to put his side in the lead. Dolphins 14-12
37th min: Jacob Preston is sent to the sin bin after a late tackle on Isaiya Katoa.
Preston sent to the sin bin
33rd min: Selwyn Cobbo scores another Dolphins try against the run of play, following Jamayne Isaako racing away after retrieving an errant pass from Lachlan Galvin when the Bulldogs were on the attack. Isaako misses the conversion attempt from the sideline. Bulldogs 12-8
Selwyn Cobbo Try
27th min: The Bulldogs hit straight back on their next opportunity, with Stephen Crichton enjoying the spoils of enterprising lead-up play from Sean O'Sullivan, an off-balance pass from Sitili Tupouniua and lob over the top from Connor Tracey. Crichton hit the woodwork with the conversion attempt. Bulldogs 12-4
Stephen Crichton Try
21st min: Jamayne Isaako runs 40 metres and skips down the sideline to score a try, taking advantage of one of the few Dolphins' entries into the Bulldogs' half. Isaako misses with the conversion attempt. Bulldogs 8-4
17th min: Stephen Crichton adds a penalty goal to the tally for the Bulldogs after Thomas Flegler is penalised for a high tackle of Sitili Tupouniua. Bulldogs 8-0
13th min: The Bulldogs earn another attacking raid off the back off a Jacob Preston line break, but an error from Sam Hughes bring it undone.
9th min: Jaeman Salmon opens the scoring for the Bulldogs under the black dot off a short pass from Lachlan Galvin. Stephen Crichton converts from in front. Bulldogs 6-0
Jaeman Salmon Try
5th min: Sam Hughes crossed the stripe for the Bulldogs, but Enari Tuala is ruled to have knocked on in an aerial contest with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the lead-up.
3rd min: The Bulldogs earn the first attacking opportunity of the game, but the chance goes begging after Bailey Hayward makes an error at dummy half.
Kickoff: We're underway on a perfect night for rugby league in Brisbane.
Late Mail
Dolphins: Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King has been locked in to the game day 19, hoping to make his first appearance of the season off the bench after a lengthy recovery from a freak knee injury in January. Kodi Nikorima will start after initially being named on the bench in his return from suspension, with Brad Schneider reverting to the interchange. Oryn Keeley was omitted 90 minutes from kickoff. Trai Fuller and Lewis Symonds dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour update.
Bulldogs: Matt Burton is a late withdrawal from the clash with the Dolphins due to illness, with Sean O'Sullivan to start at five-eighth against his former club. Logan Spinks joins the 19-man squad. Sitili Tupouniua has been retained in the starting line-up after coming off the interchange last week.
Match preview
Dolphins v Bulldogs: Round 10
