By Fraser Barton
Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have ventured north and made the Townsville waters their own with a gritty and hard-fought 32-22 victory over North Queensland in their inaugural clash.
Without playmakers Sean O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford, former Cowboys speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returned to Townsville and scored the match-sealing try after his side thwarted a spirited second-half comeback in front of a sold-out Queensland Country Bank Stadium crowd.
Tabuai-Fidow’s 78th-minute try capped a gallant effort by Bennett’s side, whose second-half errors enabled the Cowboys to chase down a 26-12 half-time lead through tries to Coen Hess and Valentine Holmes.
But the ’Phins flyer held his nerve to ice the game just shy of the siren off a right-side play and finish the game with two tries, one try assist, two line assists and 120 metres from his 13 runs.
Tabuai-Fidow and winger Jamayne Isaako now have 16 of the 25 tries scored by the Dolphins this year through six rounds, with the flying winger bagging a hat-trick in the first half.
Their efforts were built off a bullocking forward pack that made easy yardage in an opening half during which the Dolphins never looked phased by the raucous Good Friday crowd.
Former Cowboys speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored the match-sealing try.Credit: Getty
They piled on five tries to two in 40 minutes of action that included two sin-bins, 36 points, and a couple of former Cowboys getting one back on their old club.
The Dolphins punished the Cowboys five times from their six first-half errors, the first through Isaako after the hosts couldn’t gather a loose ball close to their line.
From the resulting set, Isaako crossed on the right edge for the opener. He was in again eight minutes later after Reuben Cotter’s error in midfield, the winger soaring high above his opposite number for a brilliant put-down.
North Queensland responded after an exemplary cut-out pass by Scott Drinkwater put Kyle Feldt in for his first try of the season, but when Tom Dearden gave away a seven-tackle set the ’Phins were back on the attack.
The Dolphins’ Herman Ese’ese was dominant in midfield.Credit: Getty
Tabuai-Fidow then beat four tacklers through the middle for his first try of the night.
At 14-6 and reeling, things grew worse for the Cowboys when Coen Hess was binned for a late shot on Isaiya Katoa, and they were punished again with Isaako crossing for his third.
Tom Gilbert joined in on the action seven minutes from half-time before Feldt had his second when Kodi Nikorima was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Riley Price.
Jeremy Marshall-King was a standout at dummy-half for the Dolphins, while Herman Ese’ese was dominant in midfield.
-AAP
