Match Centre

But that will do us for this one. The Cowboys will spend the first full week of the season at the top of the table with a mammoth 43-18 win over the Dolphins. Thank you for tuning in for this one and enjoy your Sunday evening.

It appeared the Cowboys had completed the rout with a final minute try, but the Bunker interjects and says Feldt dropped the ball over the line.

Flegler offloads and it is intercepted by Luki

Dolphins pick up a penalty for an offside Cowboy.

Nikorima with another error, dropping the ball off dummy half. Horrid day for the Dolphins five-eighth

And the Dolphins win the challenge, with McIntyre penalised for having a hand on the ball.

Nicholls drops it in the play the ball. Dolphins are challenging.

The Dolphins have a chance but Tabuai-Fidow meekly surrenders posession on last.

Penalty Dolphins for the Cowboys having players downtown.

A perfect grubber from Townsend sets up an almost certain try for Nanai or Laybutt, but neither dives on the ball and instead the Dolphins get a 20 metre restart

Ray Stone sent for a HIA

Drinkwater fires a long ball to Feldt, but Bostock gets in the way and can't reel it in. Repeat set for the Cowboys.

Flegler gives away a penalty after playing at the ball when not square at marker

Jesse Bromwich placed on report for the hit on Neame.

Finally a line dropout in this game, with Tabuai-Fidow forced to knock a Drinkwater grubber behind the goal line. Dolphins go shortish but Cowboys get possession, and then get a penalty after Griffin Neame is slammed onto his back.

TAULAGI INTERCEPT! He's chased down quickly by Tabuai-Fidow, who gives away a penalty in the ruck.

And the challenge is successful, it's ruled Holmes played at the ball. New set for the Dolphins, 20 metres out.

The Dolphins march downfield but a kick from Kodi Nikorima is rushed to say the least, and Farnworth is trapped in possession on last. The Dolphins are challenging however

Cotter initially gets awarded a try, but the video ref intervenes and rules a knock on by Jeremiah Nanai in the lead up.

Dolphins finally have a chance at an attacking kick and Tabuai-Fidow outleaps Drinkwater, but spills the ball after contact from Tom Dearden. Parker then reports the Dolphins suspect a dislocated kneecap for Connelly Lemuelu which is just not what they need right now

Dearden chips it and Tabuai-Fidow lets it bounce over his head, has to recover back in his try line but somehow avoids being trapped for a dropout.

Cowboys attack on last again, Taulagi tries a grubber and then a miracle tap back but Nikorima is there to regain posession.

Lemuelu is done for the rest of the arvo with his knee injury. Back on the field Tesi Niu outleaps everyone to get a high kick, but Drinkwater does well to trap his grubber before the Dolphins can really take advantage.

Confirmed. No try. Massive effort by the Cowboys.

We're going upstairs. After three set restarts, the Dolphins finally get over the line but I think O'Sullivan has knocked it on

A kick by O'Sullivan is put down by Feldt inside the Cowboys 20. Big chance here for the Dolphins to get back into the game

Cowboys run on last again but no dice for Nanai. Dolphins still under pressure to start the half.

And Kaufusi drops the ball on play number 2. That is very ominous.

Back underway for the second half. Dolphins getting first use of the pill.

So that's the end of an exciting first half. Hasn't been all Cowboys but they've taken advantage of almost every chance they've had. Massive mountain to climb for the Dolphins in the second 40.

Dolphins had a chance with an inside ball from O'Sullivan but it was forward.

Corey Parker reporting Connelly Lemuelu has left the field and gone up the tunnel with a suspected knee injury.

Bad drop by Nikorima as the Dolphins got to their kick.

Luki sent for a HIA. Seems as though there's been a knock on somewhere and now the Dolphins have a great chance off the scrum

Corey Parker reporting Tom Gilbert's knee reconstruction has been delayed for three months due to a set back... poor bloke. Meanwhile play is stopped for a head clash and Mitch Nicholls has claret flowing from his bald head.

Cowboys shift on last again and Feldt gets a linebreak, but his chip kick is fielded safely by Tabuai-Fidow.

Knock on Dolphins close to their own line. Niu monstered in a gang tackle. Big chance here for the Cowboys

Cowboys get a pressure relieving set restart

Despite that mistake, the Dolphins are exerting some field position pressure heading into the middle of the first half

Tabuai-Fidow makes a clean break on a classic outside-inside, but then grubbers to no one. Cowboys get back and survive a very scary moment

SHOT! Farnworth nailed by Taulagi. Attacking kick afterwads is taken by Feldt and he earns a penalty for an offside kick chase

Drinkwater runs on last and almost creates a break, but Murray Taulagi throws the final pass very forward.

Penalty Cowboys. Dolphins too slow peeling off the ruck.

Connelly Lemuelu rolls over the line but referee calls it short. Niu tries to create something on the last but Feldt does well to stop it. Repeat set coming for the Dolphins however.

Cotter puts the ball down on the set following points. Good chance for the Dolphins here

Both teams feeling each other out early, nothing more than one outs from the ruck so far

KICKOFF! Cowboys will get the ball first, running left to right on your television screen.

Chris Butler is the referee for this one, with Wyatt Raymond and Drew Oultram on the sidelines and Kasey Badger in the Bunker.

As for the Cowboys, it's almost an identical side to 2023. Peta Hiku and Luciano Leilua are gone, replaced by Zac Laybutt and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. This team got them to a Preliminary Final two years ago, but also missed the finals last year.

It's a very different Dolphins side from what we saw in 2023. Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler have become marquee recruits for the NRL's youngest side, while the likes of Jack Bostock and Max Plath have been given a chance to really break through into the side.

Good afternoon everyone. Around 20 minutes until kickoff in this one, the only match on this fine Sunday. The beginning of the end for Wayne Bennett's time as Dolphin coach, while Todd Payten starts his quest to get the Cowboys back into the top 8.