Dolphins crash to earth as biggest issue exposed by ‘disaster’

The Dolphins have been the darling of the NRL over the first month of the competition but they have come crashing back to earth.

The Dolphins were crushed against the Dragons. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The Dolphins’ inaugural season started with a bang but the side have dropped two straight matches after being crushed 38-12 by a rampant St George Illawarra Dragons.

It’s exposed the club’s biggest issue as the Dolphins’ depth was once again highlighted when halfback Anthony Milford limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half.

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A week after losing first-choice No. 7 Sean O’Sullivan to a pectoral injury, the Dolphins’ depth chart is at rock bottom in the key position and will now have 18-year-old five-eighth Isaiya Katoa as the main man to run the team around.

In commentary for Fox League, Andrew Voss said: “It’s more than a mini disaster… with his head in his hands Anthony Milford can’t believe it.”

Kodi Nikorima will likely be the man to come into the team as the third string halfback, after turning into a bench utility over the past two seasons.

After the match, Wayne Bennett said Milford would be at least three to four weeks.

Before the season began,

“They’re key players in your team (the No. 7s) but we’re better than that,” Bennett said in the post-match press conference.

Asked where it leaves him in terms of halves, Bennett said: “Leaves me looking to the skies, saying some prayers.”

Milford knew he was injured immediately. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Bromwich’s 300th didn’t go to plan. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Jesse Bromwich, who became the 46th player to play his 300th game in the match, said the loss of Milford “was not why we lost.”

Bennett also hit out at pundits who believed the Dolphins would struggle this season.

“I think you’ve all been waiting for this performance,” Bennett said. “You all thought it would happen in week one, it didn’t. Didn’t happen in week two, three or four.

“We’ve been up for a month and played in two semi-grand finals to be honest with you. They’ve handled it great but today we didn’t have the energy we’ve been playing with.”

Although pundits had tipped the Dolphins to struggle, a large part of the issue many saw was the lack of a superstar signing for the NRL’s newest side after being given just over a year between the announcement of the club being named the 17th NRL franchise and the start of the 2023 pre-season.

It’s not like the Dolphins weren’t in the conversation, having missed out on the likes of Harry Grant, Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga, Ryan Matterson, Dylan Brown and Cameron Munster to name a few.

And yet the Dolphins were flying high with three wins in its first three matches, before a tough loss to the Brisbane Broncos in round four.

But as the injuries mount and hit man Felise Kaufusi is still out through suspension, the Dolphins are feeling the pinch.

The loss doesn’t signal the end however, with Mal Meninga and Cooper Cronk believing it’s just a blip.

Meninga said: “Some will say it’s doomsday for them but I hope they’ll keep on hanging in there.”

“I don’t think it’s doomsday,” Cronk said. “They defend well, they complete well, they hung in there, they’re tough, they’ll compete. But they just lack class and points at the moment.”

The win also eased some pressure on the Dragons after a week from hell on and off the field.

Six days after they were humbled at home by the Sharks in a performance that heaped more pressure on their coach, the Red V flipped the script in the best way possible.

Huge result for the Dragons. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Skipper Ben Hunt was embarrassed with what his side dished up last week and it was fitting that he again led from the front with a try and an assist as some of St George Illawarra’s leaders stood tall in a strong show of support for their coach.

One of those questions led to a Blake Lawrie barge over try as he continued his scoring spree to start the season, only for the big man to be upstaged by Mikaele Ravalawa who bagged a second-half double.

It’s hard to believe this is the same team that imploded in the second half last week, and there could be more joy in the coming weeks with games against the Titans, Raiders, Bulldogs and Tigers on the horizon.

With NCA Newswire