NRL trials 2023: Wayne Bennett faces toughest test as Dolphins demolished by Titans

Wayne Bennett is facing the toughest test of his 40-year coaching career after his Dolphins were completely outclassed in their first full strength appearance.

Wayne Bennett addresses his players at half time.

Wayne Bennett is facing the toughest test of his 40-year coaching career after Kieran Foran inspired a Titanic demolition of the Dolphins on Sunday night.

The Titans delivered a knockout punch at the aptly-named Kayo Stadium, destroying the Dolphins 40-16 in the final match of the NRL’s Pre-Season Challenge.

In their first full strength appearance, the Dolphins looked out of their depth as the Titans ran in five tries in the opening 25 minutes to silence Redcliffe’s 7216 fans.

The Dolphins improved as the match went on, but if this was a sign of what’s to come in 2023 then it could be a long year for the NRL’s new boys.

Wayne Bennett addresses his players at half time.

HAND OF FORAN

The Titans brought Foran to the Gold Coast to inject 262 games of NRL experience into their spine and the Kiwi great had an instant impact.

Foran straightened up the Titans’ attack in a promising club debut and had a hand in all three of Alofiana Khan-Pereira’s stunning hat-trick in the opening 12 minutes.

His first touch was a superb cut-out pass to the flying winger before he played short and combined with rising Queensland Origin prospect Beau Fermor.

He could be exactly what the Titans need after last year’s bottom four finish.

“It was pretty pleasing how we started,” Foran said.

“That first 25 minutes was pretty dominant. We fell away which was a bit disappointing.

“The way we started was exactly what we wanted.”

WING AND A PAIR

The Titans have one of the fastest wing pairings in the NRL and they proved speed kills.

Khan-Pereira warmed up for his impending NRL debut with a quick-fire hat-trick that included some stellar finishes and ended the game with four tries.

On the other wing, former junior sprint star Jojo Fifita showcased his blistering pace with a first half double.

They will be a deadly duo out wide in 2023.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira scores one of four tries.

DOLPHIN DEBACLE

The Dolphins are wooden spoon favourites ahead of their debut NRL season and did little to prove the bookies wrong.

Bennett is famous for coaching strong defensive teams but the Dolphins were very disappointing without the ball in the opening half.

They lacked defensive intent and looked bamboozled at times by a slick Titans outfit led strongly by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita and Moeaki Fotuaika.

It wasn’t until hooker Jeremy Marshall-King produced a stinging tackle on Tanah Boyd to create the home team’s first try for winger Jack Bostock that the Dolphins found some spark.

It’s only early days but the Dolphins need to improve their defensive attitude or they’ll be towelled up this season.

“I didn’t like the way we started both halves,” Dolphins captain Jesse Bromwich said.

“We gave up too much possession with our penalties and completion rate.

“We played like a team that was having our first game together.

“Of course we need to be better. We’re not really happy with the way we performed but we’ll take the positives. There’s a few things we need to work on.”

The Dolphins score their first try at Kayo Stadium. HUGE

📺WATCH: #DolphinsTitans on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/aDpc1vglYG
✍️BLOG: https://t.co/cMP5B6s3OIpic.twitter.com/c8Who3zdfJ

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) February 19, 2023

SIXES AND SEVENS

Bennett has a problem with his halves ahead of the Dolphins’ NRL launch against the Roosters on March 5 at Suncorp Stadium.

Sean O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford looked clunky as a combination and also made numerous costly errors.

Milford kicked out on the full to put the Dolphins under pressure then O’Sullivan missed the ball attempting a kick, allowing the Titans to run 90m and score.

O’Sullivan had a nice second half but Milford was replaced by young gun Isaiya Katoa after the break and it might not be long before the maligned five-eighth is benched fulltime.

Katoa’s short pass for Connelly Lemuelu to score was classy and he is the future of the Dolphins.

Scrumbase shootout: Broncos halves battle heats up

—Peter Badel

The Broncos overcame the loss of champion halfback Adam Reynolds as unheralded playmakers Jock Madden and Josh Rogers produced a superb one-two punch to inspire Brisbane’s 20-18 defeat of the Cowboys.

Before 7,095 at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Brisbane finished off their NRL Pre-Season Challenge in style, consolidating on last week’s 24-all draw with Titans by outlasting the Cowboys in a fiery and spirited derby trial.

Trailing for an hour, North Queensland looked to have sneaked home when Jeremiah Nanai charged onto a Scott Drinkwater grubber to give the Cowboys an 18-16 lead entering the final quarter.

But the Broncos found an unlikely hero in little-known former Burleigh pivot Rogers, whose pinpoint cross kick enabled Jesse Arthars to soar high to score and sink the Cowboys nine minutes from time.

Rogers was only called up following a back injury to Reynolds on match eve and stand-in starting halfback Madden was equally impressive, having a hand in two tries in his Broncos debut after his off-season move from the Tigers.

“I knew Jock was always going to be a handful,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said. “I like the way he plays, he was good defensively, plays direct and kicked the ball well.

“There was a lot to like about Jock. I was happy with the performance overall.”

Ezra Mam showed some nice touches against the Cowboys. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

BRICK WALL BRONCOS

The Broncos thoroughly deserved this trial win. They were the better team for most of the night and a feature of the victory was their gutsy defence.

Walters vowed to fix Brisbane’s defence after last year’s late collapse to finish ninth. It was evident against the Cowboys, with Brisbane defenders repelling a number of onslaughts as Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell stood up as the Ministers for Defence.

“We are working more together in defence, that’s been our theme in pre-season,” Walters said. “The Cowboys are a great attacking team and I liked the way we stuck at it.”

SCRUMBASE SHOOTOUT

In the absence of the injured champion halfback, replacement No. 7 Madden and five-eighth partner Ezra Mam had some nice touches and showed Brisbane’s scrumbase has some depth this season.

It was Mam’s pinpoint grubber that enabled Capewell to open the scoring in the third minute. Madden was busy, defensively sound and two of his kicks led to tries, including the cross-field effort which saw Corey Oates touch down out wide for a 16-6 lead after 23 minutes.

If fit, Reynolds and Mam will be Brisbane’s starting halves, but the composed Madden is a handy safety net.

James Tamou runs into trouble as three Broncos surround him. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

SUPER SELWYN

Broncos coach Kevin Walters could soon have a selection migraine at fullback.

Reece Walsh may be Brisbane’s key off-season fullback recruit but his facial fracture opened the door for Selwyn Cobbo to deliver an eye-catching display in the No. 1 jumper.

Cobbo showed incredible athletic gifts to catch a grubber, brush off Murray Taulagi and reach out to score inches inside the corner post to give Brisbane a 10-0 lead inside eight minutes.

At 104kg, Cobbo looks noticeably bigger and, aside from a second half error, he was a menace to Cowboys defenders. The classy winger has ambitions to be a long-term fullback. He will keep Walsh honest.

Scott Drinkwater was a huge contributor for the Cowboys. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

GREAT SCOTT

Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was outstanding in a losing team. The classy custodian was a constant threat to the Broncos and had a hand in two tries to suggest he is primed for another sizzling campaign in 2023.

CENTRES OF ATTENTION

Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs is itching for a bumper season but he needs to produce smarter reads in defence.

Cowboys ace Valentine Holmes terrorised Staggs in last year’s corresponding trial and once again he haunted his Broncos rival, easily kicking out of his tackle to cross in the 13th minute.

On his day, Staggs is an explosive matchwinner in attack, but he is a poster boy for the defensive improvements Brisbane must make this season if they want to play finals.

Originally published as NRL trials 2023: Wayne Bennett faces toughest test as Dolphins demolished by Titans