Kurt Donoghoe’s nose shattered in sickening clash before Dolphins’ big win
Dolphin Kurt Donoghoe had a wild night against the Bulldogs, shattering his nose in an awful collision that left the NRL world stunned.
NRL
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The Dolphins thrashed a Bulldogs side missing its Origin stars by 36 points in horrendous conditions at Accor Stadium on Thursday night.
The visitors scored seven tries to one to romp to a 44-8 victory that improves the Dolphins to 5-7 for the season, while the ladder-leading Bulldogs suffered just their second defeat of the year.
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Jamayne Isaako scored a try and finished eight-of-nine for his shots on goal, while Lipoi Hopoi scored the home side’s lone try in the 31st minute on a miserable night for a Dogs side missing a raft of players to Origin duty, including Stephen Crichton, Kurt Mann and Max King.
Kurt Donoghoe had one of the more eventful games, involved in a sickening head clash with Toby Sexton in just the ninth minute that left his nose in an awful state.
“There’s a head clash here,” Andrew Johns said on Channel 9.
Watch the collision in the video player above
“Oh look at the nose. His nose is bent. This could be his night over. The head goes straight into the nose.
“That nose isn’t broken, it’s been shattered.”
The 23-year-old went to the sheds but returned around 10 minutes later after his nose got attended to by a trainer.
The Dolphins hooker then capped off his evening by scoring a try in the 78th minute on a night of celebration for the Queenslanders.
Fans were left stunned by Donoghoe’s courage in returning to the fray after the huge collision.
Ross Martin wrote on X: “Kurt Donoghoe. Gets his nose smashed into 3 different directions and 10 minutes later his nose has been straightened and he’s back out on the field.
“Geeze these players are tough bastards. I’d be in bed crying & recuperating for a month.”
Another fan wrote: “Kurt Donoghoe. Animal. That broken nose was ordinary, but he looks like nothing happened after time in the sheds!”
A third quipped: “Where was Kurt Donoghoe’s on the spot nose surgeon when Cooper Cronk needed him?”
It was a statement win for the Dolphins who were without key men Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Origin) and Tom Gilbert (injury).
But young halfback Isaiya Katoa and the rest of the team lifted to produce their best win of the year.
Both wingers crossed in the first half before the forwards took over as the rain got heavier, with Josh Kerr popping an audacious offload in the wet to set up Harrison Graham.
Herbie Farnworth, Francis Molo and Jake Averillo all scored late tries as the visitors gave their for and against a big boost to help move them well clear of bottom spot with one of the best wins in the club’s short history.
They’ll likely finish the round on top of the table, but the undermanned Bulldogs have come crashing back to earth after they were outclassed by a Dolphins side that handled the appalling conditions better than the ladder leaders.
– with Fox Sports
Originally published as Kurt Donoghoe’s nose shattered in sickening clash before Dolphins’ big win
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