The Cowboys have saved their season alive with a dominant 34-10 win over the Dolphins in entrance of a crowd of 33,000 at Suncorp Stadium.
Three-game rookie Zac Laybutt bagged a first-half double, whereas Kyle Feldt and Scott Drinkwater scored inside two minutes of one another to get the Cowboys out to a 24-nil lead at half time.
Drinkwater was all over the place within the first 40 minutes with the star fullback additionally establishing two tries.
MATCH CENTRE: Dolphins vs Cowboys dwell rating, stats, video
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Things then went from dangerous to worse for the Dolphins in the course of the first half when Josh Kerr was sinbinned for a hip-drop sort out, whereas the Cowboys breathed a sigh of aid when Feldt escaped punishment for a kick to the face of Sean O’Sullivan.
It took quarter-hour for the Cowboys to click on into gear after the half-time break, however they prolonged their lead when Murray Taulagi cruised over for a strive.
Expert analyst Shane Flanagan highlighted throughout commentary how “fatigue and pressure” was setting in shortly for the Dolphins — however they lastly confirmed indicators of life when Jamayne Isaako crossed for a double.
However the Cowboys bagged one in between by way of milestone man Peta Hiku after a barnstorming run from Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to place the icing on high of an important win.
BIG HITS
COWBOYS KEEP SEASON ALIVE
The Cowboys’ finals hopes are nonetheless alive after a dominant show towards the Dolphins — however there’s extra work to do.
Todd Payten’s males knew precisely what they wanted to do going into this recreation — win. Given they sat tenth and two factors behind the eighth-placed Rabbitohs, there was no different possibility.
Cooper Cronk referred to as the Cowboys’ begin to the sport “electric” after they scored 4 unanswered tries to shoot out to a 24-nil lead at half time.
Their execution was high notch too, finishing at 100 per cent for the primary 25 minutes of the sport in what Fox League’s Corey Parker mentioned was a “perfect” begin.
Even with out the ball, the Cowboys got here up with some large performs like Tom Dearden and Zac Laybutt’s try-saving sort out on Jamayne Isaako — a second that professional analyst Shane Flanagan may see sheer “desperation” in.
But Payten was removed from stoked at half time. In truth he “gave them a bake,” in response to sideline reporter Parker as a result of they solely accomplished one among their closing 5 units of the primary half.
The Cowboys walked away with the much-needed two factors, however they’ll be annoyed with the actual fact they left a few tries on the market
“They’re just not getting it right, they’re not in-sync, they’re communication is not right,” Flanagan mentioned.
DRINKWATER LEADS COWBOYS’ FIGHT FOR FINALS
It wasn’t a ten/10 efficiency from Scott Drinkwater however the star fullback was nonetheless the Cowboys’ greatest participant, scoring a try to establishing two extra in a dominant first half.
Drinkwater had some moments he’d like again like a few errors and a wayward conversion try, however as Fox League’s professional analyst James Graham mentioned, he’s a “big reason” why the Cowboys are nonetheless an opportunity of enjoying finals.
“He’s on fire,” Graham mentioned.
“He’s a big reason why the Cowboys are back in the battle for the top eight. He’s one of the in-form players in the competition.”
Cooper Cronk believes Drinkwater is “a bit of a barometer” for the Cowboys and the participant that may flip a recreation on its head.
“They’ve got a lot of role players through the middle third of the field that do all the high percentage plays, but this young man at fullback, he’s got the x-factor,” Cronk mentioned.
“He’s got the ability to break it open with risky plays, high reward and good skill.”
Meanwhile, Shane Flanagan mentioned: “When he gets it right, he gets it very, very right… Some of passing and vision… He’s a fantastic footballer with ball in hand.”
Drinkwater completed with 4 linebreak assists, three sort out busts and 84 working metres to go along with his try to two strive assists.
ISAAKO CLOSES IN ON TOP TRYSCORER HONOURS
If it wasn’t for Jamayne Isaako, the Dolphins would’ve walked away from Suncorp Stadium and not using a single level.
The in-form winger scored their solely two tries and transformed one among them to make the scoreline rather less humiliating.
Those two tries, which had been scored inside 9 minutes of one another took Isaako two away from Alex Johnston and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the NRL’s high tryscorer listing.
Given the Rabbitohs had the bye this week and Watene-Zelezniak didn’t rating for the Warriors on Friday night time, Isaako is in pole place to assert the Ken Irvine Medal.
He’s additionally in line to be topped the competitors’s high pointscorer too.
Isaako joined the Dolphins after a combined 2022 season the place he was launched early from the Broncos to signal with the Titans.
“It’s a real feel-good story,” Parker mentioned of Isaako.
“He was picked up by Wayne (Bennett), given a lifeline and he’s certainly made every post a winner here at the Dolphins.”
Re-live the motion dwell in our weblog beneath. If you’ll be able to’t see it, click on right here.
MATCH PREVIEW
The Cowboys tackle the Dolphins in a must-win recreation on Friday night time to maintain their finals hopes alive.
The Cowboys clicked into gear midway by way of the season, happening a six-game profitable streak together with back-to-back wins over the Storm and Panthers.
But they’re now coming off a three-game dropping streak that’s seen them hunch to tenth on the ladder.
A win will transfer them one spot to ninth earlier than a tricky conflict with the defending premiers, Penrith subsequent weekend.
As for the Dolphins, accidents has hit the squad exhausting and so they’ve solely managed only one win of their final 10 video games — however 5 of these have been by simply 10 factors or much less.
They get a little bit of aid with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Connelly Lemuelu and Kenny Bromwich all getting back from head knocks.
But skipper Jesse Bromwich is out with a groin damage and winger Robert Jennings joins him on the sideline with a knee damage.
The Cowboys have copped an premature blow with Jeremiah Nanai succumbing to a shoulder damage and Semi Valemei additionally unavailable as a consequence of a knee damage.
Heilum Luki will begin in Nanai’s place with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki becoming a member of the bench. Murray Taulagi pushes out to Valemei’s wing and Zac Laybutt joins the centres.
TEAMS
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 16. Euan Aitken 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 14. Jarrod Wallace 9. Harrison Graham 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 15. Josh Kerr 17. Herman Ese’ese 18. JJ Collins 19. Isaiya Katoa 22. Kurt Donoghoe
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
