The Dolphins defeat Sydney Roosters in historic upset

Coaching mastermind Wayne Bennett has done it again as the NRL world was left in disbelief over one of the greatest upsets ever.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 05: Mark Nicholls of the Dolphins celebrates after scoring a try during the round one NRL match between the Dolphins and Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on March 05, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Dolphins aren’t here to make up the numbers.

The new kids in the NRL mean business and in their first ever outing they’ve stunned the league world by taking apart the Sydney Roosters, claiming the 28-18 victory.

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Sydney entered the contest as the raging favourite, before the opening kick they were listed as 20 point favourites. But at halftime the Dolphins showed they weren’t going to be the pushover many had expected.

In the second half they looked like they belonged in the premiership conversation as they dismantled the Roosters on both sides of the park.

The Dolphins ran in three tries to one after the halftime break as they flexed their muscles and pulled away.

The Roosters held a 12-6 lead after the opening twenty minutes, from that moment on it was all the Dolphins as they outscored their opponents 22-0. The Roosters scored a late try to keep some hope about but it wasn’t to be.

“This is extraordinary, I feel like we’ve walked into a Wayne Bennett ambush,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League commentary.

“We’ve witnessed history here.”

Wayne Bennett produced the last masterclass display in a long-list of historic displays, but it was his halftime messaged that paved the way for them to produce an upset for the ages.

After pushing the favoured Roosters all the way in the opening half, Bennett kept his side in check ahead of the barnstorming second half with three words: “keep it simple”.

The Dolphins are the real deal. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Trent Robinson’s Roosters completely fell apart in the second half under immense pressure from the Dolphins.

The heavily-favoured Roosters failed to complete back-to-back sets as Wayne Bennett’s troops ran riot.

With the ball in hand they found gaping holes in the Roosters’ defence, but it defensively where the contest was turned on its head.

The Dolphins defensively turned the screws as they continued to force the Roosters into errors and kept them at bay in the dying stages.

“I can’t remember a defensive performance like this, they have worked so hard defensively around the ball all game,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.

Dolphins prop Jesse Bromwich said he was overjoyed with the opening round display and said the emotion post-game had boiled over.

“The old boys in the sheds had tears in their eyes ... to go out and play the way we did, I’m very, very happy.

Fans watching on couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing unfold in front of their eyes.

.@dolphinsnrl just casually reminding the skeptics that even though they didn’t sign a ‘marquee player’, they did recruit a whole bunch of experienced NRL players. #NRLDolphinsRoosters#PhinsUp

— Veronica Eggleton (@veggleton) March 5, 2023

Super coach wayne!!! Phins up @BuzzRothfield give Kaufusi the Artie Beetson Medal

— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) March 5, 2023

I mean as first games go, this is pretty impressive. #NRLDolphinsRoosters

— Ed Jackson (@edjacko) March 5, 2023

Wayne Bennett … That is all … That’s the tweet

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) March 5, 2023

How good was that!? @dolphinsnrl win their first ever game in the NRL 🙌 #NRLDolphinsRoostershttps://t.co/akXwWjgkEd

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 5, 2023