Dolphins defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 44-8 in wild weather conditions

It was the visiting Dolphins who were able to swim in the Sydney downpour, running away with a massive victory over the Bulldogs who struggled in the absence of their Origin stars. See what we learned from the match.

The Bulldogs have paid the price for their early season success with the severely depleted ladder leaders unable to keep up with the resurgent Dolphins in atrocious conditions on Thursday night.

The blue and whites had lost just one game in the opening 11 rounds but were no match for the visitors who made it back-to-back wins in Sydney with a thumping 44-8 victory ahead of next week’s bye.

This 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.

Harrison Graham celebrates a try. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Jack Bostock scores a try. Picture: NRL Photos

WINNING ON PAWS

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.

The Bulldogs paid the price for their hot start to the year with three key men missing on Origin duty, while they were also without a stack of injured stars.

The chopping and changing took its toll, with the Bulldogs unable to conjure anything in attack, with Jake Turpin denied a crucial try with 22 minutes to go which would have made it a six-point game due to a forward pass.

It was their second loss in the wet this season, with the Bulldogs needing to get some of their key men back ahead of a tricky Origin period.

HURT KURT

Kurt Donoghoe’s modelling career may be over, but the Dolphins hooker proved just how tough he is by coming back on 15 minutes after he broke his nose.

Kurt Donoghoe with a busted nose. Picture: NRL Photos

A head clash with Toby Sexton looked to have ended his night in the opening moments which would have been a huge blow to a team already without Jeremy Marshall-King and Max Plath.

You needed a protractor to work out what angle his nose was pointing, but it didn’t stop him from returning to the field once he passed his HIA, with Donoghoe penalised for a heavy tackle on Sexton as he put in a kick.

He may have been struggling to breathe, but Donoghoe capped off a brave performance with a try in the final few minutes to help his side crack 40.

WET AND WILD

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— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) May 22, 2025

The rain set in a few hours before kick-off and did not stop, with ground staff at Accor Stadium needing to whip out a squeegee to dry the windows in the media box so journalists could see the game.

The 10,412 fans who braved the miserable conditions deserve free entry for Canterbury’s next home match, while both teams did remarkably well to hold onto the Steeden which was tougher to catch than a bar of soap.

Jake Averillo was no chance under a Matt Burton bomb in the first half, while Reed Mahoney made a couple of late errors in the first half which proved costly.