Dolphins’ seal comeback for the ages despite all-time brain fade by Robert Jennings

The Dolphins produced the equal best comeback in NRL history but everyone is talking about THAT blunder from winger Robert Jennings.

Robert Jennings' brain fade against the Titans.

On a weekend which celebrates spirit and heart like no other, the Dolphins displayed sport’s humble version of it with one of the most amazing comebacks in rugby league history.

The legend of Dolphins, already so powerful and vibrant after two high achieving months, soared into a fresh orbit when the side leapt from a 26-0 deficit halfway through the first half to a stunning 28-26 victory over the shell-shocked Titans.

Who are these blokes? How are they doing this? Isn’t this the team without superstars?

Starved of possession, missing tackles, leaving midfield gaps not seen in other games this season, the Dolphins looked down and desperate for most of the first half. They were gone.

Then, as they so often do in adversity, they clicked for a stunning Anzac weekend victory.

Coach Wayne Bennett, for whom the Anzac weekend has always been special significance, lifted the team to a victory which seemed impossible.

Not since the Cowboys roared back to beat Penrith after also trailing 26-0 in 1998 has there been such a spring-loaded comeback.

This win equals it as the greatest comeback since the Sydney rugby league premiership started in 1908.

The Dolphins celebrate their record comeback.

Ray Stone of the Dolphins celebrates victory. Picture: Getty

A WING A PRAYER

Dolphins winger Robert Jennings had two nightmare late moments when he was brought down short of the line and, for reasons only he would know, just stopped rather than wriggle a metre over the line. Then he lost the ball when crossing in the corner.

Team-mates were laughing about the first incident after fulltime when he told them “I thought it was a double movement.’’

“Did he fall asleep or what was doing?’’ Jarrod Wallace told Fox League. “I said there was no-one within 20 metres of you. You can get up and keep running.’’

WATCH VIDEO IN PLAYER ABOVE!

Robert Jennings' brain fade against the Titans.

But the Dolphins never lost faith and they struck lead in the closing minutes when centre Euan Aitken reached out and thumped the ball down over the line for the winning try.

“What happened? What happened to Jennings?” said Fox Sports caller Warren Smith of the Jennings incident. “That was the change over. I’ve never seen the like of it.

“What about the work of the Hammer to go over AJ Brimson, passes to Jennings, he stumbled and he didn’t get up to continue running.

“Nikorima can’t believe it ... that was the change over.

“Can’t imagine what he was thinking.

“This will be the most talked about play over the weekend no matter what happens between now and Anzac Day.

“Jennings can’t believe it, Nikorima and his teammates are blowing up ... can’t imagine what was going through his mind.”

Biggest brain fart I’ve ever seen from Robert Jennings there 😂🤮🤦🏻‍♂️#NRLDolphinsTitans

— SuperCoach Brain 🧠 (@SC_Brain) April 23, 2023

Special shoutout to Robert Jennings for providing the funniest Rugby League moment of the century. That kind of brilliance will never be topped! #NRLDolphinsTitans

— Anthony Morgan (@anthfieg1) April 23, 2023

Robert Jennings #NRLDolphinsTitanspic.twitter.com/YnMym5Cjyl

— They gave me the Penske file 😉 (@Luke_Pownall) April 23, 2023

KID DYNAMITE

Young Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa is one of the buys of the season and a player of the present as a much as the future.

The loss of halfback Sean O’Sullivan hasn’t rattled the 19-year-old – it has made him.

Whether kicking down field, making an important tackle, or organising and scrambling, he was in most things at Suncorp.

Normally 19-year-olds need a rest in NRL seasons. He seems to be getting stronger.

TITANS WOES

Yes, the Dolphins were outstanding, but how brittle are the Titans?

This is one of their worst losses. For years the Titans have had a reputation as a team who can dance with the best of them when it comes to the occasionally sparkling piece of attack but just don’t know how to put the blue overalls on.

When they started going backwards in their pointless second half there was no sense of a revival. They lack fibre and just cannot put teams away.

The Titans started well but faded. Picture: Getty

SOLID CROWD

The crowd of 22,034 was not a blockbuster but it does justify the Dolphins’ move to plan the majority of home games at Suncorp.

As enchanting as it is to have three home matches in Redcliffe at Kayo Stadium, the Dolphins have already outgrown their home ground which has a capacity of around 10,000.

That means half of the fans who attended the Titans match would have missed out.

BLAST-OFF BRIMSON

AJ Brimson, a late inclusion after recovering from a hamstring strain, confirmed his status as an attacking trump of the highest order.

Sniffing around ball players Tanah Boyd and Kieran Foran, he tore the Dolphins apart with a two first half breaks when nothing was doing, the first providing the game’s opening try to Chris Randall.

The Titans had one of their most electric surges ever to score four tries in 12 minutes midway through the first half.

Originally published as Dolphins’ seal comeback for the ages despite all-time brain fade by Robert Jennings