Round 10: Dolphins v Sea Eagles preview
Dolphins keen to show form is no joke against Sea Eagles
Round 10 kicks off with the Dolphins and Seas Eagles looking to secure a number four position on the NRL ladder.
Wayne Bennett's Dolphins are punching above their weight to sit at number four on the ladder, while the Sea Eagles, sitting at number five, have some soul-searching after a disastrous capitulation to the Raiders in the last round. Suncorp hasn't been the best hunting ground for either team, with the Dolphins only winning one out of four games at the venue this year, while Manly has leaked 106 points in their last three games at Suncorp. The only time these met, the Sea Eagles dealt out a shellacking of 40 points, dismantling the Dolphins at 4 Pines Park 58-18.
The Dolphins ranks will see the welcome return of Herbie Farnworth from a shoulder injury and Kenny Bromwich after serving his concussion protocols. Tesi Niu is out due to an ankle injury last round, and his return timeframe is yet to be confirmed.
The Sea Eagles will have their full complement of Trbojevic brothers, with Ben named in the second row for the Thursday night clash. Due to a hip flexor injury, Nathan Brown will be sitting this one out. He will be joined by Lachlan Croker, who will miss a game due to concussion protocols after a heavy knock last round.
A cheeky and cheerful Wayne Bennett was on hand for the 'Phins post-game press conference for Round 9. The team's refusal to give up stood out to him the most with his charges coming from behind to snatch the game away in a thriller over the Cowboys in Townsville, 28-26 winners last Saturday.
The Dolphins of 2024 have shown that they have the depth to stay competitive, even while missing top players such as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Herbie Farnworth, and Tom Flegler.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold lamented that his team didn't have the edge to regain the momentum against a frantic Canberra Raiders side who ate up the 20-point lead they had given the Sea Eagles, to beat them 26-24. While he said his team got what they deserved, there were positives from the first half they would use to get them ready for the game in Suncorp this round.
Last meeting: Round 15 2023 - Sea Eagles 58 Dolphins 18
Who to watch: Felise Kaufusi brought plenty of aggression into the forward pack of the Dolphins last game, and the veteran's presence can only galvanise a forward pack that is discovering a winning identity. Josh Kerr has been in career-best form, while Max Plath has answered the call and gone far above what has been asked of the youngster. Both these forwards are finding the extra energy in the engine to keep putting in for their team. Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa teamed up to help stir their side through adversity last round; this combo is ready to keep firing. Herbie Farnworth will likely hit the ground running, returning to his old home ground. The Englishman was in good form until his injury and will make his presence known early. The combination of speed and talent will combine again down the Dolphins right side with Jake Averillo and Jamayne Isaako. Issako will be sure to star, as he has scored seven tries in his last seven appearances at Suncorp.
Daly Cherry-Evans will be keen to make amends for last round's embarrassing performance. DCE knows the team is capable, and his kicking game may be the key by putting the Dolphins' fullback Trai Fuller under the high ball. Reuben Garrick is a player who will put an effort in for 80 minutes regardless of the score. He's good at finishing and is in the top 15 for line breaks across the competition. It could spell trouble if his frame gets in contention for the ball with Fuller. Tom Trbojevic will be sniffing around all game, seizing on opportunities, and backing up any breaks made. We could see a good duel between both fullbacks, who are agile and speedy operators.
Favourite: The boys from Redcliffe will be going into Thursday night's clash as underdogs. The Dolphins are still without stars, and they may be seen as getting tired against a strong Manly, who are not missing so many key players.
My tip: This is a game in which the Dolphins will secure a top-four spot and prove to be contenders or have the Sea Eagles bounce back to form to bury the nightmare of last-round loss. I see the Dolphins digging in deep again. This time last year, they started to go backwards, and they won't want that to happen again. Dolphins by two tries.
