Bennett not happy with Dolphins’ ‘poorest performance’ as side nears history

The Dolphins have won its first ever NRL away game and edged closer to a much more significant slice of rugby league history.

Wayne isn't happy just yet. Photo: Getty Images

The Dolphins are closing in on history after another stunning victory to open up the side’s inaugural season.

The Dolphins added the Knights to the Roosters and Raiders with a 36-20 win in Newcastle on Friday night.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

It was the side’s first ever away game and after being pushed for much of the match, the Wayne Bennett-coached club powered away on the back of a Tesi Nui hat-trick and double to Jamayne Isaako.

Already one of just three expansion clubs in the 23 since 1908 to have won two matches to start its life, the club has now made it three.

And the Dolphins play the Broncos next week, looking to equal the Storm’s inaugural season start, where the club won four matches in 1998. The Broncos hold the record, winning its first six straight regular season matches to start its maiden season.

The Dolphins were tipped to finish down the bottom of the ladder. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Despite the performance, Bennett said the result was “the good, the bad and the ugly” but was pleased to be 3-0 rather than 0-3.

“The good was the 30-something points, the bad was the 18 we gave up with a lot of rubbish in between,” Bennett said.

“Of the three games, it certainly would have been our poorest performance tonight and we still managed to just hang in there, which we’re good at doing and getting the result our way.”

But it was another brutal night for the Knights, who drop to 1-2 with its only win coming at the expense of the Tigers last Sunday.

The Knights were missing the likes of Adam Elliott, Kurt Mann, Jacob Saifiti, Jayden Brailey, Tyson Saifiti, Jack Johns and Kalyn Ponga for the match.

Coach Adam O’Brien said Daniel Saifiti “didn’t look great” with another middle forward likely out of the next match.

With 11 minutes remaining and the score 26-20, the Knights lost halfback Jackson Hastings to a HIA after the Dolphins’ hit man Felise Kaufusi was sin binned for a late hit to the Novocastrian’s back as he passed.

Kaufusi had been put on report earlier in the match.

With Ponga out due to his concussion, it left new fullback Lachie Miller and five-eighth Tyson Gamble to bring the Knights home.

However, a short pass from Gamble which went a mile forward was slammed after it essentially iced the game.

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “What on earth is Tyson Gamble doing there? Absolute shocking final five minutes.”

Couple of highlights, and some periods of grit & grunt from an inexperienced #Knights team missing their best players. But still, bottom line is another frustrating, infuriating loss to an expansion team that looked far more more collected & composed. #NRLKnightsDolphins#NRL

— Brett Keeble (@BrettKeeble) March 17, 2023

Wow. The @NRLKnights would struggle to win a game in the Maitland U8's tournament with the lack of skill they've shown tonight. Absolutely pathetic. #nrl#nrlknightsdolphins

— David Bauche (@davidbauche) March 17, 2023

Hastings after the Kaufusi hit. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But O’Brien didn’t agree with the swipes from social media.

“I just think we didn’t make it easy on ourselves to win,” he said.

“The effort was there. But some errors there at the back end that really let the game get away from us. We’ll get smarter but I think we’re intact in terms of the DNA we tried to create in the summer.”

O'Brien said a moment that saw two of his players collide towards the end of the day was a good sign as both were running towards the ball.

It saw the points slip away and the Dolphins return to the top of the ladder two matches into the round.

Only the Dragons or Broncos can usurp the Dolphins with the sides playing on Saturday and requiring a in of 18 or 19 points respectively.

It sets up a mouth-watering derby between the Broncos and Dolphins next Friday night.

Originally published as Bennett not happy with Dolphins’ ‘poorest performance’ as side nears history