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No one expected the Dolphins’ entry to the NRL competition to be easy, and it certainly didn’t seem likely up against the team some believe will be playing on grand final day in 2023.
Yet for anyone concerned that the newest addition to the competition would be something of a dead weight, the narrative was quickly shifted in Round 1, as Wayne Bennett presented a professional, passionate and disciplined team against what was a panicky and error-riddled Roosters outfit.
In front of a ripping first up crowd of around 32,000, both teams started well. The 73-year-old Bennett looked a stress ball in the box early on, before his team slowly began to show an aptitude capable of challenging the star-studded Roosters.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Sydney’s key recruit Brandon Smith lasted just three minutes, an HIA dragging him from the field before he was to eventually return, and the NRL newbies maintained parity on the scoreboard for the opening ten minutes.
Joseph Suaali’i opened the scoring off the back of a well-directed kick, before Jeremy Marshall-King inspired the try that temporarily brought the teams level after 15 minutes. An error from the kick-off that followed Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s first ever Dolphins try, led to Drew Hutchison crossing easily on the right edge for the Roosters, before the teams were sent to the sheds at 12-12 after a late try from enforcer Mark Nicholls had levelled things up.
The Dolphins took control early in the second half after tries from Connelly Lemuelu and Jamayne Isaako, before the winger scored a second in the 63rd minute to essentially ice the match, with the NRL world simply stunned by the opening effort of the Dolphins.
Bennett’s fingerprints were all over the contest. Solid defence led to decent field position and astute kicking that challenged the Roosters early on.
Bennett sunk back in his chair in the most satisfied of manners, soaking in all the pre-season criticism and scepticism, in full knowledge that his plans had nullified the Roosters’ attacking weapons. James Tedesco, Luke Keary and Sam Walker had been blunted effectively.
James Tedesco (Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Matt Lodge and Lindsay Collins had failed to make a significant impact through the middle for the Roosters and as the final siren drew nearer, Bennett’s team stayed firmly on task and never allowed them the space required to threaten the Dolphin defence on a consistent basis.
We have seen it so many times. Bennett thrives on the ill-informed expectations of people seriously deficient in rugby league knowledge. He loves the derision from down south that simply disrespects his talent and resume. No matter the overall outcome in terms of the Dolphin’s 2023 season, its opening chapter was something special.
The final 28-18 score-line will send shivers through the NRL competition. Many a head will shake in respect of the master coach that proved for the umpteenth time that he is the best in the business bar none.
Other teams certain that they would be featuring in the finals come September may now have to re-evaluate their approach to a match-up with the team that some felt would be easy-beats in 2023.
Bennett was stern in the post-game. “I was pretty proud of everything they did. The biggest winner today was the game”, whilst he also singled out the performance of Arthur Beetson Medalist Felise Kaufusi.
“No one gave us much of a chance today and one of the most difficult things is to get that first win.
“The way we played was important today … we can’t build the foundations on young men”, alluding to the important leadership roles of Kaufusi and the Bromwiches.
Captain Jesse Bromwich referenced the Dolphins’ administrators as “men with tears in their eyes”, in an emotional tribute to the people that have brought the club to life and are now celebrating its first win.
Tedesco was blunt and honest in the post-game, citing “too many errors” and the fact that his “middles were dominated” as the key reasons behind what will be seen as the most shocking Round 1 NRL loss of 2023.
He surmised the performance as a “disappointing start” as the new Dolphin fans celebrated in the stands.
Whilst somewhat easy to dismiss the win as yet another moment of Bennett’s coaching genius, the performance of one of the competition heavyweights was concerning.
Outplayed, hustled and enthused, the Chooks allowed what most thought was a certain two points to slip and now move forward knowing that they were towelled up in Round 1 by a team most thought certain to suffer belting and belting by the better teams in the competition.
It was not to be the case and the Dolphins have firmly stamped themselves on the NRL map in just their opening week.
Trent Robinson was visibly disappointed, saying they were “well beaten in the ruck and the forwards sort of got dominated”, summing up what was a poor day for one of the competition favourites.
“We didn’t create enough momentum to take our opportunities … we weren’t winning the ruck and we had poor decisions on the back of it.”
Most alarming for the Roosters was his admission that “we got outworked and got what we deserved in the end”.
“We knew what they were going to come with….but our ability to combat that was poor.”
Whilst acknowledging the fact that numerous HIAs were far from ideal, Robinson was open in expressing a desire to see more “from the whole pack” and Tedesco echoed the coach’s thoughts when he lauded the Dolphins for “rolling through our middle quite easily”.
“Too many errors and as a spine we didn’t really take control”, he said, adding “our middle ruck needed to be better”.