Missing an experienced dummy half since the start of the season, Jeremy Marshall-King made an instant impact for the Dolphins in his Round 10 return, helping his side to a dominant win.
Coming off the bench in the 44-12 victory against the Bulldogs, he eased his way back from a long-term knee injury, a ‘freak’ accident that occurred when playing with his children at a waterpark.
The Kiwi rake scored a try and did his fair share of defence as well, with coach Kristian Woolf saying after the match how good it was to have the team's first-choice spine including Marshall-King back playing together.
Jeremy Marshall-King Try
For Marshall-King, he was happy just to finally be back full stop, after spending six months on the sidelines. The lengthy stint was compounded by a broken thumb he suffered in the opening game of New Zealand’s 2025 Pacific Championships campaign.
“It's been hard, the last time I played was six months ago, and it's just hard watching the boys and it's just good to be back out there around the boys and playing again," Marshall-King said.
“It's pretty unlucky! I did it at a water park ... with the kids.
"I can't really do much about it ... and that's just my luck in that moment.
“So it's so good to be back around the boys and playing.
“My recovery probably took a bit longer (than expected), some hurdles we had to overcome.
“But I'm super grateful just to be back now and playing and to top it off with a win like that, it makes it even special.
“Against the old club as well, makes it even better.”
In this week’s Magic Round match-up, the Dolphins will face off against their foundation coach Wayne Bennett, who will be bringing an in-form Rabbitohs to town.
However, with a few more players set to return to the squad for Friday night's game, Marshall-King was looking forward to the match-up.
“We've got Rabbitohs, they're a top side and we're looking forward to that," Marshall-King said.
“They're on fire.
"(But) I think we've just got to worry about ourselves and what we do, but I know the boys are still building confidence and to get a win (tonight), it just helps us.
"Our confidence is building .. there was a four-week period where we lost four games in a row and to have now won two in a row is nice.
“We've just got to keep building on it.
“Woolfy's spoken about it … (we) were just off against Penrith - it's one point - and they're at the top of the ladder at the moment …
“We'll just keep building, we're getting more confident.
Hammer looking forward to Magic Round
"Having everyone coming back - it's just good to have myself back and everyone else - but it's going to be a headache when everyone's back.
“We're getting a few boys back now from injury – still missing Kurt [Donoghoe], Jake [Averillo] as well.
"I don't know what the coach is going to do and when everyone's back.
“But that's his job, I just focus on mine."
Match: Rabbitohs v Dolphins
Round 11 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
4th Position
away Team
Dolphins
9th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
