NRL 2023: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow stars as Dolphins stun Raiders 20-14 to storm to top of NRL ladder
Wayne Bennett has created an inspirational 17th club for the NRL and given Queensland a fourth franchise to be proud of after the Dolphins stunned the competition yet again.
The Dolphins’ fairytale entry to the NRL has continued after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow inspired a spirited comeback to stun the Raiders at Redcliffe.
Six days after their historic Suncorp Stadium ambush of the Roosters to launch their NRL existence, Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins showcased their tenacity with a remarkable 20-14 win at a sodden Kayo Stadium.
In shocking conditions, “The Hammer” Tabuai-Fidow was the hero with a brace of tries to send the 10,023 crowd into raptures in the Dolphins’ first NRL match at their spiritual home.
After being written off as wooden spoon favourites, the Dolphins followed the Broncos (1988) and Storm (1998) to become just the third expansion club to win its opening two games.
The Broncos finished seventh that season while the Storm rose to third in their inaugural campaign, showing the Dolphins could be finals bound in 2023.
Bennett has created an inspirational 17th club for the NRL and given Queensland a fourth franchise to be proud of.
“Only special teams can do those types of things,” Bennett said.
“We refused to give in.
“We knew some of the players we bought had those qualities, so that’s the basis of it all. The younger players learn that quality.
“Leaders lead and others follow them.”
DESPERATE DOLPHINS
The Dolphins didn’t play smart enough football in the first half, throwing risky offloads and showing poor discipline in driving rain.
The home side’s completion rate was 70 per cent compared to Canberra’s 83 as the Raiders opened up a 12-0 lead with tries to Jack Wighton and Nick Cotric.
A crucial try on the stroke of half-time to Tabuai-Fidow kept the Dolphins in the contest and Tom Gilbert’s desperation levelled scores at 12-all after 65 minutes.
Just like the Roosters match, the Dolphins’ goal-line defence was spirited and kept them in the game.
The Dolphins kept pressing and when Tabuai-Fidow caught Raiders forward Hudson Young offside at marker in the 71st minute, they edged ahead through the boot of Jamayne “The Ice Man” Isaako.
Then it was the Dolphins fullback that stood up again, Tabuai-Fidow diving over in the 78th minute following a classy play from rookie five-eighth Isaiya Katoa to clinch a memorable win.
BENNETT BLASTS BUNKER
Referee Todd Smith had a busy afternoon, sin-binning Dolphins duo Jeremy Marshall-King (hip drop) and Sean O’Sullivan (dangerous contact) along with Raiders forward Hudson Young (professional foul).
Marshall-King, arguably the best player on the field in the Dolphins’ debut win against the Roosters, faces missing next Friday night’s clash with Newcastle following an awkward tackle with Raiders forward Corey Horsburgh.
The match ended 12-on-12 after Young and O’Sullivan were marched, the latter controversially binned following a heavy collision with Raiders forward Corey Harawira-Naera late in the game.
“I’m not sure where that was all going,” Bennett said.
“He couldn’t get out of his road. He kicked the ball in a bad position running flat out at Sean.
“If there was head contact it was an absolute accident. At no stage did Sean tackle him. It was two players making a collision. It’s a collision game and they’ve got to recognise that.
“The other sin bin (Young) was tough on them as well.
“The ref didn’t have a lot of problems in the game, the players were playing within the rules. Everyone was trying their hearts out.
“I thought it was a pretty tough sin-binning. It’s a huge price to pay.”
RICKY’S QUEENSLAND FLOP
After a one-point loss to the Cowboys in Townsville last week, the Raiders will head back to the nation’s capital without a win following a two-round stay in Queensland.
Coach Ricky Stuart should be disappointed with Canberra’s opening fortnight of the season after they failed to capitalise on two contests they were in.
The Raiders made too many errors and couldn’t ice their opportunities against a more desperate Dolphins team.
“It was tough,” Stuart said.
“Both teams put a lot of effort in and there was going to be one team disappointed, that’s us. There was a lot of effort that went into that performance but it wasn’t our way.
“In these conditions it was always going to be an even contest and come down to a moment or two.
“They did a good job and it was a good win for them. He’s (Bennett) done a good job with them to get two from two.”
The Raiders face the Sharks next Sunday in Canberra in what will be another tough test.
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