NRL 2023: Kotoni Staggs pours some salt on Dolphins’ wounds
Kotoni Staggs produced the game-winning moment in the game against the Dolphins, and then piled on the pain with his post-match comments.
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Battle of Brisbane hero Kotoni Staggs has fired a parting shot at the Dolphins, saying he has no intention of ever following Herbie Farnworth to Redcliffe in his quest to make the Broncos Queensland’s premier NRL team.
The Broncos won the inaugural Dolphins derby 18-12 before 51,047 fans – the biggest ever regular-season crowd at Suncorp Stadium – and it was only fitting that the matchwinner was scored by a Redcliffe junior.
Staggs was a member of Redcliffe’s 2018 Queensland Cup premiership team and he returned to haunt the Dolphins on Friday night, producing a sizzling 100-metre try in the 79th minute to seal a historic Broncos triumph.
Upon scoring, a pumped-up Staggs pointed to the Suncorp turf and roared “our f***ing home”, an emphatic riposte to claims the Dolphins could dethrone the Broncos as the premier NRL brand in a Brisbane market that now has competitive spice.
The expansion rivals are certain to wage many ferocious battles in the years to come and Staggs wants the Dolphins to know the Broncos are the kingpins of Brisbane.
“I just said, ‘This is our home’,” said Staggs, who exploded back to his best with 217 metres from 17 runs, one line break and three tackle busts.
“There might have been an ‘F’ word there, but I was a bit emotional and it was a great way to finish the game.
“We knew the battle coming up against them was about who owns Suncorp with another Brisbane team coming in.
“It was a good way to finish the game, the Dolphins came straight to my mind when I scored.
“It (Suncorp) is our home.”
The Dolphins recently snared two huge scalps from the Broncos, poaching Queensland Origin prop Tom Flegler and Staggs’ centre partner Farnworth on big-money deals from next season.
As a Redcliffe junior, Staggs would be the perfect addition to a Dolphins backline craving strikepower, but the 24-year-old signed a four-year deal with Brisbane in 2021 and insists he won’t walk out on the Broncos.
“To be honest, I didn’t think of joining them (the Dolphins),” Staggs said.
“When I first made my way to Brisbane from Wellington in NSW, Redcliffe was my feeder club and I have a lot of respect for the Redcliffe Dolphins for giving me an opportunity when I first came to Brisbane.
“We won an Intrust Super Cup grand final when I was there, they will always hold a special place in my career and it’s just good to have them in the game.
“When there was talk of another team coming into the comp, I didn’t know if it was going to be the Dolphins or someone else, but I committed to the Broncos for another four years.
“I knew where I was stable and where I was going to play my best footy.”
Staggs’ matchwinner ignited Suncorp. The Tongan torpedo beat two defenders and outsprinted three other Dolphins chasers to underline why he has the talent to be the NRL’s No.1 centre.
“It was a moment I needed to take,” he said.
“I saw a lot of space, I threw a dummy and it opened up for me, so I put my head down. I got ankle tapped at the end there and almost fell over but I collected my legs and kept going.
“I pinned my ears back and hoped for the best. I got there in the end. That’s what it was all about.
“I didn’t know who was chasing, I just put my head down and tried my hardest. I got there.
“That is probably the first one (100-metre try) I have ever scored. I am glad it was with a minute to go because I was coming off if it wasn’t.”
Cop that Dolphins. This is our house.
That was the emphatic message from Kotoni Staggs after Brisbane’s strike weapon produced a sensational 100-metre try in the final minute to break the Dolphins’ hearts 18-12 in a fast and ferocious derby blockbuster.
In a historic night for Queensland rugby league, the Broncos and Dolphins produced a mini-Origin slugfest in their inaugural River City Rumble before a record non-finals crowd of 51,047 at Suncorp Stadium.
In the end, a crazy, crackling, high-octane Battle of Brisbane was superbly sealed by Staggs, the former Redcliffe star plunging the dagger into his junior club when he collected an Anthony Milford grubber on his tryline and streaked away to score.
Upon crashing over to seal a famous win, a triumphant Staggs rose to his feet, pointed to the hallowed Suncorp turf and said simply: “This is our house”.
Indeed, the expansion rivals shook the house to its foundations, with the Broncos leading 8-0 and forced to withstand a furious finish from the Dolphins, who led 12-8 with 16 minutes to play.
But the Broncos held their nerve, skipper Adam Reynolds releasing Kurt Capewell for a 45-metre try before Milford rolled the dice with a grubber and watched helplessly as Staggs swooped to inflict the Dolphins’ first defeat.
What a moment. What a game. The Dolphins were so brave, but Reynolds, Capewell and Staggs fired Brisbane to the top of the league with a flawless 4-0 record.
Thanks for visiting the home of the Broncos ð
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) March 24, 2023
Safe travels back to Phinland. pic.twitter.com/mTE9BCuA9c
Broncos coach Kevin Walters lamented his side’s lack of execution, but praised the performance of Staggs, who sealed his best performance in two years with a magnificent 100-metre runaway try.
“Kotoni has been very good for us in the opening month,” said Walters, who scored bragging rights over his long-time mentor Bennett.
“He is getting into that zone of performing every week. He is a rep player and you really notice his presence out there.
“We’re happy, it was a tough win, we didn’t play well, so we need to fix up a few things.
“I want to pay my respects to the Dolphins, they a bloody tough side. It was a typical Wayne Bennett-coached team.
“The margin was tight, neither side were at their best but we got there just in the nick of time.”
DEMOLITION DERBY
It was a mini-Origin atmosphere at Suncorp and both sides seemed too eager to impress in the inaugural Battle of Brisbane.
The first half was as willing as it was sloppy, the Broncos (64 per cent) and Dolphins (60pc) completing poorly and coughing up a combined 19 errors in a desperate battle for ascendancy.
The Broncos made a spate of unforced errors. The Dolphins had more than enough field position to capitalise, but they were just as wasteful, sparing a Brisbane side that was brilliant in defence.
Relive our live coverage from the Battle of Brisbane below.
ROCK SOLID REECE
It’s easy to be seduced by Reece Walsh’s attack, but the Broncos fullback showed he can also be just as effective without the ball.
While Walsh played a hand in Brisbane’s first two tries to Jesse Arthars (23rd minute) and Selwyn Cobbo (50th), the one knock on Brisbane’s star recruit is that he is too fragile in defence.
Walsh vowed to muscle up this season. Bang. He has. The strike weapon was outstanding in defence, producing a number of crucial tackles, including a brutal trysaver crunching a flying Tesi Niu six minutes before the break.
His sublime bullet pass for Cobbo’s try after the break for a crucial 8-0 lead showed Walsh has a potent cocktail of grit and glamour.
MILF’S COMEBACK
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett pulled a late selection switch by resting injured pivot Isaiya Katoa and summoning Milford for a shot at redemption against the Broncos club that axed him two years ago.
After a quiet first half, Milford produced a moment of second-half magic that evoked images of his glorious 2015 campaign that fired the Broncos to the grand final.
The Samoan Test star teased Brisbane with some towering bombs before slotting the superb grubber for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s 64th-minute try to give the Dolphins a shock 12-8 lead.
It was evidence Milford, at age 28, is far from a spent force if his work ethic begins to match his raw talent.
“I was really proud of that effort,” Wayne Bennett said.
“Our halfback was gone, our hooker was gone. After 10 minutes, Tesi was gone. We could have played better, but there was no-one I was disappointed with.
“We have now set a standard for the rest of the time. We had 50,000-plus and it will be the same again for next game, we were both imperfect but the way we competed, that’s what we built the Broncos on.”
SHATTERED SEAN
The Dolphins suffered a further blow with halfback Sean O’Sullivan facing an extended stint on the sidelines after tearing his pectoral muscle on the hour.
Despite O’Sullivan’s absence, the new franchise stunned the Broncos to take a 12-8 lead, but with the game on the line in the final minutes, Special K came alive to become a Battle of Brisbane hero.
Relive our live coverage from the Battle of Brisbane below.
FULL-TIME – BRONCOS CLAIM VICTORY IN THE BATTLE OF BRISBANE
KOTONI STAGGS WINS THE BATTLE OF BRISBANE FOR THE BRONCOS!!!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 24, 2023
ðºWATCH #NRLDolphinsBroncos on Ch. 502 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/KU6O1WswuO
âï¸BLOG https://t.co/ie5TZ59m7K
ð¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/9xoueDvMADpic.twitter.com/NZpwDQpVTz
78th MINUTE – BRONCOS 18-12 DOLPHINS
The Broncos have gone back-to-back scoring what you would think is the matchwinner, with Kotoni Staggs pouncing on a poor kick from Anthony Milford, and running the length of the field to score in the corner. Reynolds bad night with the boot continues and he fails to convert.
71st MINUTE – BRONCOS 14-12 DOLPHINS
Broncos stars Kurt Capewell and Adam Reynolds have put the Broncos back in the lead, after the crafty halfback but the Capewell through a massive gap after a defensive lapse from Brenko Lee. Reynolds converts to put them back in front. We have a game on our hands here …
Broncos strike back!#NRLDolphinsBroncospic.twitter.com/Gt5qELhysw
— NRL (@NRL) March 24, 2023
65th MINUTE – DOLPHINS 12-8 BRONCOS
It's HAMMER TIME! The Dolphins have the lead for the first time in the Battle of Brisbane, with star fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring an impressive try to set up an explosive finish. Don’t go anywhere folks!
IT'S HAMMER TIME AT SUNCORP.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 24, 2023
The Dolphins take the lead!
ðºWATCH #NRLDolphinsBroncos on Ch. 502 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/KU6O1WswuO
âï¸BLOG https://t.co/ie5TZ59m7K
ð¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/9xoueDvMADpic.twitter.com/222zjm2K6d
62nd MINUTE – DOLPHINS DEVASTATING INJURY BLOW
Sean O’Sullivan has been forced from the field, after suffering a suspected torn pectoral and could be in for a lengthy stint on the sidelines. It’s time for Anthony Milford to step up!
57th MINUTE – BRONCOS 8-6 DOLPHINS
The Dolphins have struck back, with former Bronco Jarrod Wallace scoring right under the posts, after a great pass from fill-in dummy-half Ray Stone. The Dolphins found themselves in terrific field position after Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo opting to not take a catch from a Sean O’Sullivan bomb. Despite the Broncos scoring two tries, they find themselves with just a two-point lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Wallace charges through the Broncos defence to put the Dolphins on the board! ð¤ðª
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 24, 2023
ðºWATCH #NRLDolphinsBroncos on Ch. 502 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/KU6O1WswuO
âï¸BLOG https://t.co/ie5TZ59m7K
ð¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/9xoueDvMADpic.twitter.com/NFbnu0ANl3
52nd MINUTE – BRONCOS 8-0 DOLPHINS
The Broncos have extended their lead over the Dolphins, with Selwyn Cobbo scoring in the corner after a terrific cut-out pass from Reece Walsh. Adam Reynolds fails to convert.
Brisbane almost crossed over again on the next play, with Walsh putting Jesse Arthars through a gap and running almost the length of the field before bombing it. The Broncos fullback is absolutely on fire.
Walsh ð¤ Cobbo#NRLDolphinsBroncospic.twitter.com/DOP3zpqemg
— NRL (@NRL) March 24, 2023
41st MINUTE – NIKORIMA RULED OUT
The Dolphins have suffered a massive blow, with Kodi Nikorima officially ruled out of the game after a sickening headclash in the first half, after failing his HIA. Nikorima lasted just several minutes, before being forced from the field after blood flowed, following the friendly fire from Tom Gilbert.
HALF-TIME – BRONCOS 4-0 DOLPHINS
Some incredible defence from Broncos stars Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam has denied two Dolphins tries, with wingers Tesi Niu and Jamayne Isaako both going within centimetres of opening the Dolphins account. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow also went agonisingly close to scoring a historic Dolphins try right on the edge of halftime, after an impressive linebreak from backrower Connelly Lemuelu. The Broncos may have the lead, but the momentum is definitely behind the Dolphins heading into the second half
WHAT. A. TACKLE.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 24, 2023
Reece Walsh is everywhere! ð¥
ðºWATCH #NRLDolphinsBroncos on Ch. 502 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/KU6O1WswuO
âï¸BLOG https://t.co/ie5TZ59m7K
ð¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/9xoueDvMADpic.twitter.com/Yx1CXznERn
24th MINUTE – BRONCOS 4-0 DOLPHINS
The Broncos have opened up the scoring in the inaugural Battle of Brisbane, with winger Jesse Arthars scoring in the corner after a brilliant sweep play. Adam Reynolds fails to convert. Just minutes after coming onto the field, Dolphins hooker Kodi Nokorima has been forced off, following a sickening head collision which saw him bleeding heavily.
The Broncos draw first blood in the battle of Brisbane!!! ðª
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 24, 2023
ðºWATCH #NRLDolphinsBroncos on Ch. 502 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/KU6O1WswuO
âï¸BLOG https://t.co/ie5TZ59m7K
ð¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/9xoueDvMADpic.twitter.com/GCSaSSj6Dc
20th MINUTE – THINGS ARE HEATING UP
The Battle of Brisbane is heating up and the tension is palpable, with Adam Reynolds and Tom Gilbert almost coming to blows after a bombed opportunity from the Broncos. No change to the scores after the first 20 minutes. Dolphins winger Tesi Niu is clearly battling with a knee injury and could be forced from the field shortly.
7PM – AND WE’RE UNDERWAY
The Battle of Brisbane is officially underway, and the Dolphins have received a mixed welcoming to their home game, with a big chunk of the sold-out 52,000 crowd booing the NRL newcomers.
6:20PM — BRONCOS ARE IN THE HOUSE
We are home ð pic.twitter.com/8alL45xSGw
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) March 24, 2023
6PM- LATE MAIL: FINAL TEAM LISTS IN
The Dolphins have suffered a late blow, with star five-eighth Isaiya Katoa ruled out with an elbow injury. Katoa made it through the captains run on Thursday, but is a late scratching, with Anthony Milford taking his place.
Isaiya Katoa is a late out for THE Dolphins, failing to overcome an elbow injury. Considering he was a chance to play tonight points to likely minor issue, would think heâs a good chance of being available in Round 5 #NRLDolphinsBroncos
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 24, 2023
Poasa Faamausili and Kenny Bromwich have also swapped, with Bromwich reverting to the backrow in place of Felise Kaufusi, while Faamausili will start at front-row. In another late change, Mason Teague will start at hooker, with Kodi Nikorima dropping back to the bench.
The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes.
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Tesi Niu 21. Anthony Milford 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 17. Mason Teague 18. Poasa Faamausili 10. Kenny Bromwich 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert
Bench: 9. Kodi Nikorima 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone
Reserves: 22. Robert Jennings
Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan
Bench: 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau
Reserves: 18. Deine Mariner
5:30PM – EYES ON THE PRIZE
The Dolphins have unveiled the prize for the Broncos derby, with the winner of the Battle of Brisbane to take home the ‘Battle Medal’ … interesting name to say the least.
Man of the match in tonightâs Broncos v Dolphins derby will receive the inaugural Battle Medal.
— Adam Jackson (@AdamJackson_9) March 24, 2023
Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith will decide the recipient. pic.twitter.com/B84NbmqTWw
5:00PM – SUNCORP SELLOUT!
The gates are officially open at Suncorp Stadium and fans are beginning to flock in, with more than 50,000 tickets sold in a sell-out crowd!
Well done Brisbane! The Battle for Brisbane is sold outhttps://t.co/rJswBlZvA8
— The Dolphins (@dolphinsnrl) March 23, 2023
Atmosphere building steadily on Caxton Street. Whole lot of Dolphins gear about. Vibes are immaculate. Let us go.
— Nick Campton (@campo37) March 24, 2023
FINAL ORDERS: KEVVIE REVEALS GAMEPLAN TO SHUTDOWN DOLPHINS
The Broncos may be the team with the lightning bolt but they have been ordered to don the blue overalls and “get in their faces’’ to win The Battle.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters will try and “do a Wayne on Wayne’’ by out-tackling and out-hustling the Dolphins in what shapes as an iconic night for Queensland sport on Friday.
Both teams are unbeaten after three rounds and the stunning and often-overlooked statistic is that the Dolphins have scored more points than any other team with 84 from their three games.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, who has a 40 year association with Walters, was expected to mould an honourable defensive unit but no-one expected his team to be heading the points for list after the early rounds.
Walters has responded with a time-honoured Bennett ploy of making sure his defence is a key priority entering a big game despite the fact the attacking sizzle of Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam has lit up the competition.
“I think you will find we will have good line speed and get into their faces and that is what it is all about,’’ Walters said after Broncos training on Thursday.
“Certainly defence has been the key for us throughout the first three weeks and the whole off-season really. Tomorrow will be no different. We know they have some strike players so we have to be good with our defence and everything else will flow off the back of that.’’
“That is where our big focus has been this week, making sure we are working together and working hard for each other.
“They have two good halves, a good fullback and a good spine. We have to make sure we are working hard defensively to limit their opportunities.’’
“I sense this week there is a good vibe among the players.’’
BRONCOS’ FORMER $1M MAN IN LINE FOR SHOCK CALL-UP
Anthony Milford is on the verge of a shock call up to face his former Broncos club with rookie Dolphins pivot Isaiya Katoa in major doubt for tonight’s derby blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
News Corp understands Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has told Milford to be ready to face the Broncos club that dumped him two years ago as Katoa faces an uphill battle to recover from a minor elbow injury.
The late inclusion of Milford would add another explosive chapter to the Battle of Brisbane following his stunning fall from grace as the Broncos’ former $1 million man.
Milford was axed by Broncos coach Kevin Walters at the end of 2021 and if he plays against Brisbane tonight, the playmaker will be hellbent on seeking revenge to continue the Dolphins’ fairytale start.
Bennett has given Katoa every chance to feature in the Battle of Brisbane, with the injured young gun showing signs of improvement on his injured elbow after running at the Dolphins’ captain’s run on Thursday.
But Milford has been told he is on standby in the strongest sign yet the Dolphins are losing hope of Katoa playing.
Meanwhile, hulking prop Poasa Faamausili, who played 39 games for the Roosters, will make his Dolphins debut off the bench, with Jarrod Wallace expected to be promoted to start at prop and Kenny Bromwich set to be shifted to the edge to replace Kaufusi.
“We will bring ‘Po’ in for Felise and we will see what we do with Katoa,” Bennett said.
“Isaiya is just about over the line but he’s quite there yet, so we will see how he pulls up (on Friday).
“If he’s not right, we have Anthony on standby,
“I haven’t seen Anthony play (in the Queensland Cup).
“The feedback on him has been pretty good. He was up in Central Queensland playing (for feeder club the Capras) and he was in Townsville last weekend so the feedback has been good.”
SLEDGE THAT INSPIRED DOLPHINS’ INSANE NRL START
Wayne Bennett’s mind guru believes widespread wooden spoon predictions have played a key role in the “unburdened’’ Dolphins taking the rugby league world by storm.
The Dolphins have stunned the NRL with a 3-0 start entering Friday night’s soon-to-be-sold-out blockbuster against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Respected sport psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey, who has been working with Dolphins coach Bennett since the 1970s, believes smart recruitment and a lack of high expectations have proved a potent cocktail.
“In many ways it was a positive everyone saying you are going to be wooden spooners,’’ said Jauncey, who has also worked with the Australian cricket team and a wide variety of sports sides.
“With expectations so low from people you can go out and enjoy the ride while you can. You don’t get the tension.
“Like anything new you get your honeymoon period. If they keep winning expectations will grow and the bar will get higher. But you probably won’t really get to know the team until eight to 12 games into the season.
“People were saying ‘you haven’t recruited marquee players. Fans won’t know what to do with you.
“It’s when people are expecting you to win a championship it can be hard. You can see what is happening with Parramatta.
“These are early days. Of course there will be bumps ahead.’’
THE RED HILL ‘REJECTS’ OUT FOR REVENGE
They are the Red Hill rejects – the six former Broncos stars and Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett seeking revenge in Friday night’s Battle of Brisbane.
The Dolphins will field at least six ex-Broncos players, more than a third of their 17-man team, in the inaugural Brisbane derby at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.
Then there is the most famous ex-Bronco off them all in Bennett, who was sacked in 2018 after leading Brisbane to all six of its premierships.
Dolphins foundation players Jamayne Isaako, Brenko Lee, Tesi Niu, Sean O’Sullivan, Kodi Nikorima and Jarrod Wallace have all spent time at the Broncos.
Anthony Milford – the highest-paid player in Brisbane’s 35-year history – is a seventh ex-Bronco on standby for rookie Dolphins five-eighth Isaiya Katoa (elbow).
Dolphins halfback O’Sullivan was signed by Bennett for 2019 but didn’t get a chance to play under him and only managed eight matches in two seasons for the Broncos.
“It would be nice for us former Broncos to get one up on them,” he said.
“I was really looking forward to being coached by Wayne and then he got sacked the day I arrived, so I had one day with him. It’s nice to be reunited with Wayne here at the Dolphins.
“I went through some of my toughest moments at the Broncos and I learned to be resilient. I had to come back from my third knee reco, it was during Covid so a lot of times I was training in the park by myself and being away from family and friends.
“I am extremely grateful the Broncos taught me hard work and to enjoy the good days and bad days because the good ones outweigh the bad ones.”
Lee, 27, played eight NRL games for the Broncos last year before signing with the Dolphins and said he was looking forward to the derby.
“There’s quite a few of us who were at the Broncos and no-one knows the Broncos better than Wayne,” he said.
“Growing up in Brissy, I was born and raised here and all I wanted to do was to play for the Broncos. That was my dream and I got to do it last year, but now there’s a second team in Brisbane and the Dolphins are an option.
“This will become the type of game I hope where kids go to school the next day bragging about the Broncos or the Dolphins winning.
“The Broncos are a huge club and a huge brand, but we’re pretty proud of what we have built at the Dolphins.
“With Wayne, none of us want to let him down because of the belief he shows us.”
Bennett has seemingly reinvigorated the careers of some of Brisbane’s outcasts.
Isaako became one of the Dolphins’ first signings, but struggled for form last year and was released mid-season to the Titans before his move to Redcliffe, where he has scored four tries in three games.
Niu was also on the outer at Red Hill and was released from his contract in the pre-season. He scored his first NRL hat-trick in last week’s win against Newcastle.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said he knew his ex-players were quality performers.
“The whole team has been good and we expect them to be no different,” he said.
“We’re certainly aware of their qualities as players and people, but they’ve got a different jersey on now.
“We’ll treat that with respect but also put all our energy and focus into our guys.”
Bennett is cognisant of the emotions that could impact the Dolphins’ performance and has attempted to keep a lid on things.
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said it was important the ex-Broncos players didn’t lose focus in the grudge match.
“We don’t need to be trying to conjure up rivalries or what players need to come up with good performances for. They need to come up with good performances for themselves,” he said.
“All the guys you’re referring to have done a really good job this year and not because they’re ex-Broncos players, but because they’re Dolphins players and want to play well for the Dolphins.
“They’re proud of their own performances and that’s not going to be any different this week. It’s a big game, big occasion, and there’s a lot of attention around it.
“But at the end of the day it’s worth two points, the same as last week was and next week is.”