Round 12: Dolphins v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

[Phins Phan]

You lose all credibility when you talk about "a fix" and "scripted fairytale" - that's just tinfoil hat stuff. Fact is there are good and bad calls every week - Dolphins copped a howler last and got away with a lucky one last night. Seems the NRL is having trouble sticking to the same conspiracy from week to week

 

[mr_c]

In terms of games lost or frustrating I don't include the Warriors one as that was a fix and my favourite podcast exposed the Warriors earlier in the year being the scripted fairy tale story and what we saw last week was evident of that.

we have ony just lost to 2nd team n bet the top team n exposed both ( ffs even the presenters had showed how dogs been exposed sand worked out well)

 

[mr_c]

You lose all credibility when you talk about "a fix" and "scripted fairytale" - that's just tinfoil hat stuff. Fact is there are good and bad calls every week - Dolphins copped a howler last and got away with a lucky one last night. Seems the NRL is having trouble sticking to the same conspiracy from week to week

just rubish him more he realises he not got nothing hence he writes these big messages , and talks about podcasts ffs

 

[Blockade]

Definitely one of their greatest victories in their short history. That is without doubt. Nothing beats the win over the Roosters, but this is a close second or third. My favourite is still the 8 tries in 25 minutes demolition in Darwin. But, last night was huge. It kept them relevant as far as playoffs go and it greatly improved their f/a. Here's a fun fact. If the Broncos lose next Saturday, they will dip below the Dolphins in the standings. Who would have thought that was possible after an 0-4 start (Broncos were 3-1)?

The bye next week followed by StG (h), NQ (a), Newc (h) and Souths (h) followed by another bye. All four are winnable, but I'll settle for three. That would get them to .500 and put them in good shape heading in to the final third of the season. Hopefully, some troops are returning soon as well. A playoff spot is there for the taking. Whether they take advantage will be another story.

 

[Red]

Definitely one of their greatest victories in their short history. That is without doubt. Nothing beats the win over the Roosters, but this is a close second or third. My favourite is still the 8 tries in 25 minutes demolition in Darwin. But, last night was huge. It kept them relevant as far as playoffs go and it greatly improved their f/a. Here's a fun fact. If the Broncos lose next Saturday, they will dip below the Dolphins in the standings. Who would have thought that was possible after an 0-4 start (Broncos were 3-1)?

The bye next week followed by StG (h), NQ (a), Newc (h) and Souths (h) followed by another bye. All four are winnable, but I'll settle for three. That would get them to .500 and put them in good shape heading in to the final third of the season. Hopefully, some troops are returning soon as well. A playoff spot is there for the taking. Whether they take advantage will be another story.

I disagree about one of our greatest wins. It was a good win but when the smoke settles at the end of the season, I think Bulldogs are going to be well down the ladder. Probably top 8 but not top 4. Look for their little forwards to get smashed week in week out from now.

 

[257Matt]

Definitely one of their greatest victories in their short history. That is without doubt. Nothing beats the win over the Roosters, but this is a close second or third. My favourite is still the 8 tries in 25 minutes demolition in Darwin. But, last night was huge. It kept them relevant as far as playoffs go and it greatly improved their f/a. Here's a fun fact. If the Broncos lose next Saturday, they will dip below the Dolphins in the standings. Who would have thought that was possible after an 0-4 start (Broncos were 3-1)?

The bye next week followed by StG (h), NQ (a), Newc (h) and Souths (h) followed by another bye. All four are winnable, but I'll settle for three. That would get them to .500 and put them in good shape heading in to the final third of the season. Hopefully, some troops are returning soon as well. A playoff spot is there for the taking. Whether they take advantage will be another story.

Reason I respected the win last night by Dolphins not necessarily liked hahahaha was how they put it together it's the style that I liked to coach and always liked to see from the great Canterbury teams of years gone by.

Most Bulldogs fans are using the injuries, origin and referee excuse whilst Crichton, Mann and King are massive outs the Dolphins had very key outs too that largely been ignored from the narrative.

The competition has potentially opened for Dolphins after the bye but they need cash in and that's been their achilles heel in the last couple of years. Cowboys game is without the Origin players do they'll be Drinkwater and a QCup side.

Broncos have Manly are Brookvale lets see how they respond now a bit of pressure is being applied to them.

 

[257Matt]

Donga charged by the match review committee for the incident with Sexton faces a fine whether he takes early or contests.

 

[Dolph]

I’d agree. Far from our best. And I’d suggest, without our 3 best forwards, we would have smashed their powderpuff pack had we had those 3.

What’s glaringly obvious to me. Is that their pack is too small, and both their halves aren’t halves. Watching Katoa compared to theirs is like night and day. Their recruitment has been shit if I’m honest. Anyone can pay overs for flavour of the month players. But having the foresight to get a Katoa is real recruitment

We did smash them but ai get where you are coming from. Would've put them away much sooner with arguably our best 5 forwards.

 

[257Matt]

3 Donoghoe
2 Katoa
1 Molo

Honourable for Averillo & Graham

 

[Equaliser]

3 Donoghoe
2 Katoa
1 Molo

Honourable for Averillo & Graham

Seems about right but I think a few other forwards, like Kaufusi and Stone were better than Molo and Katoa didn't get up to his tricks until the last 20min after Bulldogs pack had been smashed from pillar to post and were looking for exits.

 

[257Matt]

Seems about right but I think a few other forwards, like Kaufusi and Stone were better than Molo and Katoa didn't get up to his tricks until the last 20min after Bulldogs pack had been smashed from pillar to post and were looking for exits.

Katoa on his own out kicked Burton, Sexton and Mahoney that set the Dolphins up really well.

 

[Equaliser]

Katoa on his own out kicked Burton, Sexton and Mahoney that set the Dolphins up really well.

One kicker or 3 kickers doesn't make much difference.

 

[257Matt]

One kicker or 3 kickers doesn't make much difference.

Katoa kicking game was on another level he was the main man on the field

 

[Equaliser]

Katoa kicking game was on another level he was the main man on the field

Ok, I'll take your word for it.

 

[Chris]

Ok, I'll take your word for it.

Stick to your guns. Katoa came good after the poor Canterbury pack had been given a monumental hammering.

 

[257Matt]

Ok, I'll take your word for it.

Sydney was hit by non stop rain all Thursday not as bad as Port Macquarie, Taree or parts of Newcastle including Donoghoe home town still bad. The most simple logic in wet weather footy is whoever kicks the ball the most wins the game. Canterbury should have held the cards there because Burton kicks longer & higher than anyone else he alone forced 6-7 knock ons from the Roosters wingers last week and they’ve got Mahoney and Sexton. Dolphins only serious kicking option is Katoa and he schooled all 3 of them combined. His kicking game gave Dolphins a platform.

Donga at dummy half and lock was superb including playing 60min with a broken nose he topped the tackle count for Dolphins and for those who play SC he topped the fantasy points too.

Molo topped the metres with 145 followed by Bostock with 115. Next best forwards were Keeley 105 and Kaufusi 102. Donga, Kuli, Lemuelu and Kerr were all in the 90s. Kerr only played 23mins and 39 of Dongas 69mins were at 9.

Molo, Herbie and Keeley all got over 50 in post contact metres. Keeley played 48mins broken down to 30 edge and 18 middle for 105m 55pcm.

Donga topped tackles with 39 followed by Stone 30 and Graham 29.

I thought Molo was the best forward on ground and he won the clubs award. Molo was the forward for me that always poked his nose through the Bulldogs the most.

I was listening to Triple M yesterday on the way home from bush walking in Blackheath and I think it was Himdmarsh who said put Katoa in the Bulldogs and the score is reversed. I don’t think it’s that dramatic difference but Katoa owned the Bulldogs 6-7-9 two of them classed as marquee players and were borderline origin candidates this year Burton having already played for NSW and Australia and Mahoney being in extended QLD squads.

Katoa is a gun in every sense. I hope he stays a Dolphin for his whole career and has an impact on them like Mortimer, Sterling, Langer, Stuart, Johns, Thurston, Cronk (over 300 Storm games), Cleary had with their clubs and he gets the be a one club legacy player with over 300 games.

 

[257Matt]

Minutes Played:
1-7 backs all played 80mins
Molo 42 (off 20.14, on 57.37)
Donoghoe 69 (off 9.21 HIA, returned 20.14)
Kaufusi 50 (off 22.42, on 52.44,
Finefueiaki 80
Keeley 48 (off 29.41, on 61.42)
Stone 42 (off 29.43, on 49.44, off 61.42)
Graham 41 (on 9.21 HIA, off 49.44)
Nicholls 35 (on 22.42, off 57.37)
Kerr 23 (on 29.41, off 52.44)
Lemuelu 50 (on 29.43)

Just a breakdown of Bulldogs in comparison
1-5 backs & Sexton all played 80mins
Burton 68 (off for HIA Cat 2)
Hughes 17
Mahoney 68
Curran 80
Kikau 80
Hayes 56
Hayward 53
Hopoi 36
Turpin 39
Morrin 24
Smith 40 (inc 12 as HIA for Burton)

4mins of stoppages when Donoghoe had HIA meaning he got 69mins as opposed to 65 and 3mins of stoppages when Burton was off meaning he got 68 as opposed to 65.

Both sides used 7 interchanges and 1 HIA. The Burton one was called by Independent and Dolphins by Club.

Dolphins made their 7th interchange at 61.42 Keeley for Stone.

Bulldogs made their 7th interchange at 67.54 Turpin for Mahoney.

Neither used the full 8.

 

[Equaliser]

More nonsense. We were also under strength when he smashed Melbourne.

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DOLPHINS PRODUCE BEST EVER WIN AS KATOA SHINES AGAIN ​

The Dolphins produced arguably their best ever win after upsetting the Bulldogs 44-8 on their own turf with Isaiya Katoa again the star of the show. Matty Johns believes the big win over the ladder leading Bulldogs, who had lost only once all season was up their with their best ever.

“That could be one of the Dolphins’ finest wins since coming into the competition, that’s a massive win,” Johns said on the Late Show with Matty Johns. Bryan Fletcher believes the Dolphins strangled the Bulldogs out of the contest in the forwards and Katoa’s kicking game was the icing on the cake. “They struggle to win in Sydney, I think that was only their third or fourth win,” Fletcher said of the Dolphins. “The Dolphins deserve all the plaudits they get because they were brilliant. The kicking game was spot on, their forwards they played together and hunted as a pack. It was a perfect performance.”

Nathan Hindmarsh believes the Dolphins played to the atrocious conditions better than the Bulldogs. “The Dolphins handled the conditions a lot better,” Hindmarsh said. “The forward pack of the Dolphins were outstanding. “They used their forwards a lot more. Usually we talk about the Dolphins using their speed on the edges, but they used their forwards very well.”

 

[257Matt]

• Dally M votes: Isaiya Katoa 6, Herbie Farnworth 3, Francis Molo 2, Kurt Donoghoe 1.

 

[Red]

I don't even think he's that talented. Games I have seen him play with Moses have been very underwhelming.

I think the NRL is onto the Roosters. Warned them of dire consequences for cheating.

Braith Anasta, former Roosters player and current player manager let the cat out of the bag when he said on TV, "There is an understanding that if a player goes to the Roosters, the board are going to ensure that player is set up for life after football." That's probably not in verbatim but something very close to that. Open and shut cheating.

Both teams have key players missing and the Dolphins backline looks a hell of a lot less potent without the presence of the Hammer. It could be a wet game which might even things up a bit. I'm anticipating another close one and the Dolphins desperately need to spring an upset here in order to keep their season alive.

Dolphins by 6
FTS- Isaako
MOTM- Katoa.

• Dolphins by 10
• First try: Bostock (form has been down. Needs to make a statement with no mistakes, lots of strong carries and good finishing)
• MoM: Katoa

Who scored the first try? I forget. Was it Bostock?