Wayne Bennett could only describe it as a “brain freeze”.
The Dolphins somehow clawed their way back from 26-0 to defeat the Gold Coast 28-26 on Sunday – but Rob Jennings spectacular effort to bomb a certain four-pointer was the main talking point.
With the NRL newcomers trailing 26-18 in the 57th minute, Jennings took the ball on the last tackle and stumbled just short of the line with no Titans defenders in front of him.
Rather than get up or even crawl the couple of metres to score, Jennings lay down and did not move. Titans players could not believe their luck as they jogged over and placed a hand on him and the ball handed over.
Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima was fuming at the time. Prop Jarrod Wallace joked to Fox Sports after the game that maybe Jennings had fallen asleep.
Bennett has seen plenty during his time in the coach’s box, but was never going to be too harsh on Jennings who scored a second try not long afterwards to help seal the brilliant comeback.
Robert Jennings bombs a try against the Titans.
“I probably have seen something similar, I just don’t remember it,” Bennett told the Herald on Monday. “I didn’t ask him about it. I realised he thought he had scored, but he wasn’t over the line. And he was then worried about a double movement.
“He missed his mark and wasn’t there. Unless someone is in contact with you, there’s no double movement. He just had a brain freeze. He did score an important try for us a little later on.”
Cronulla’s Ronaldo Mulitalo would have been grateful his own botched four-pointer on Saturday night would have been quickly forgotten.
Jennings can also take heart in the knowledge such bloopers happen to the best of them, including Sonny Bill Williams who will never forget his famous no-try for New Zealand against Samoa at the 2013 World Cup.
Robert Jennings atoned for his mistake by scoring a crucial try in the Dolphins’ 28-26 win.Credit: Getty
Parramatta’s Bryce Cartwright grew up with the Jennings brothers at Penrith and felt for Rob, but was also delighted the crazy passage of play did not decide the result.
Like Bennett, Cartwright was convinced Jennings was worried about a double movement.
“It was just a mistake, the poor bugger. I’m happy they got the win so he didn’t have to worry about it,” Cartwright said.
Meanwhile, Bennett said he remained hopeful Jack Wighton would accept the four-year deal offered by the Dolphins as they take on the playmaker and Canberra this weekend.
Wighton is expected to make a call by the weekend whether to with Bennett at Redcliffe, stay put at the Raiders on a four-year $4.4m deal, or link with Souths to play with good friends Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
“We didn’t talk about deadlines or when he will make a decision, it wasn’t any part of the discussion, but it was a good meeting,” Bennett said of last Thursday’s hook-up with Wighton.
“He has some decisions to make now. He’s a quality player, that’s why we’re chasing him. Jack is always a handful.”
Pressed on why the Dolphins would be a good fit for the 30-year-old Wighton, Bennett said: “Ask me that question if he comes to Redcliffe.”
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