By Joel Gould
Wayne Bennett’s never-say-die Dolphins have equalled the greatest comeback in premiership history to overpower the Gold Coast in an extraordinary 28-26 win at Suncorp Stadium.
Behind 26-0 after 26 minutes, the Dolphins appeared headed for a thrashing but fought back in stunning fashion.
It was brilliant and barnstorming and showcased the special qualities the players in this Dolphins outfit have embedded deep within them.
Bennett has overseen scores of remarkable achievements in his career but this courage-personified win, in the NRL’s Anzac Round, surely must be right up there.
The Titans collapsed in a screaming heap when the blowtorch was applied.
Dolphins centre Euan Aitken crashed over with brute strength and sheer willpower to give his side the lead for the first time in the 74th minute. They were never going to give it up.
The Dolphins celebrate a Mark Nicholls try against the Titans.Credit: Getty
The record for a winning comeback in premiership history dating to 1908 was set in 1998, when North Queensland recovered from 26-0 down to beat Penrith 36-28.
The Dolphins, in their first season, have incredibly matched it.
Bennett’s side had so many heroes.
Teenage half Isaiya Katoa was immense. Prop Jarrod Wallace played the game of his life and winger Robert Jennings had a rollercoaster 10-minute stint in the second half of which legends are made.
He crossed just before half-time from a bomb to kickstart the comeback. Wallace put prop Mark Nicholls over after the break, then barged over himself from close range.
An extraordinary few minutes for Jennings then unfolded. With the Dolphins trailing 26-18, he stumbled and fell within one metre of the line on a last play.
No Titans player was touching him but for some reason he didn’t reach out to score.
Minutes later Jennings lost the ball over the line, but he got another crack at it and made it count with a scintillating one-hander in the corner.
Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson was a late inclusion from a hamstring tear and was scintillating early.
Third time lucky: Roberts Jennings scores for the Dolphins.Credit: Getty
The Titans pack dominated at the start with second-rower David Fifita, hooker Chris Randall, lock Isaac Liu and skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui on fire.
Brimson split the Dolphins wide open to set up hooker Randall for the opening try.
Liu crashed through feeble Titans defence to score, then sent Fa’asuamaleaui over untouched before Randall went in for one of his own.
At that point the Titans looked like they could score 50 points but they inexplicably switched off.
The Dolphins wanted it more. It was that simple.
AAP
