FULL-TIME: Tigers 30 d Dolphins 18
Gilbert's offload was okay and it is spilled on the ground by Kurt Donoghoe.
SIX AGAIN PHINS: Ruck infringement.
Farnworth with the one on one strip.
PENALTY TIGERS: Offside.
Nails it.
The Tigers were setting for the field goal but their captain Apisai Koroisau had different ideas. He caught the defence focusing their energy on Luai and he went all the way to score.
PENALTY TIGERS: Slow peel
Oh no... Jamayne Isaako goes without it and loses the ball
Samuela Fainu coming off
The more we watch the Dolphins, the more I fear they are missing Max Plath through the middle third... Just his speed is something that is missing in the middle third at the moment.
Great leap by Turuva!
Big shot again by Adam Doueihi - he has done everything in defence.
Not the best set post points from the Tigers. Now is the chance for the Dolphins.
Nails it
The Tigers carried all momentum for the next little period and the Dolphins alarmingly high error count was their own undoing. A terrific crash ball from Apisai Koroisau found Alex Seyfarth and the rangy backrower crossed on the right edge.
SIX MORE: The Galvin grubber went the way of the Pin Ball Wizard!
Oh Jack... Bostock loses it and that is great contact from Samuela Fainu.
Dolphins now rolling their sleeves up as they work out of their own end.
Bula with a half bust.
OFF THE UPRIGHT... AND THROUGHHHHHH
Despite a shaky second half where both sides made mistakes and invited each other into the contest, it was the Tigers that opened the second half scorers sheet in the 63rd minutes. A beautifully weighted pass from Galvin landed on the chest of Starford To'a who drew the defence and found Turuva to cross for his fifth try in a fortnight.
SIX MORE TIGERS: Slow peel against Daniel Saifiti.
PENALTY TIGERS: Hand in the play-the-ball - strip after held was what the Phins challenged but that is in the blown challenge category.
The first kick was... good as they created a contest but Farnworth's second kick was not good.
Really critical stage of this game right here.
PENALTY DOLPHINS: Slow peel
Peter Gough goes full SuperNanny on Tom Gilbert for giving Luai a bake "set a better example"
Some entertaining play but the Tigers cannot handle it... Jarome Luai spills the offload.
PENALTY TIGERS: Not square at marker Kurt Donoghoe.
AVERILLO HAS BEEN CRUNCHED! Adam Doueihi says get that into you!
NO NO NO NO WHAT WERE THEY THINKING... The Tigers last tackle options have been simply poor at times tonight.
Update on Jeral Skelton they have reported a left knee problem and he will not return tonight.
Bula kicking early, To'a gets the bounce... can he reach out? NO he cannot - what a tackle from Tom Gilbert and company !!
OH NO! Isaako goes without it and the Tigers have a full set on the Dolphins line! This is a golden opportunity.
Tigers are going to miss Jeral Skelton coming out of yardage. No report from Hooper on the touchline yet but when it comes we will report!
Galvin with the grubber... OH MY WORD what a catch in the slips from Hammer.
Terrell May continuing to go forward.. was a smart move from Tom Gilbert to run around the back and prevent the threatening May offload.
Katoa kicking inside the 40 and the wind carries it over the dead ball line. A relief for the Tigers !
Big save from Hammer to get back into the field of play.
Jeral Skelton has come off and he is gutted.
PENALTY TIGERS: Slow peel as Da Silva quick taps it and gets the Tigers inside the Dolphins end.
Oh my goodness... Mark Nicholls has put it down .
Tigers challenging the decision of a strip in the tackle here.
PENALTY DOLPHINS: Slow peel
Decision stands - NO TRY ! Atkins looked at the further replay to determine what the restart will be!
VIDEO REF: Gough has NO TRY - Ray Stone did try to reach out.
Adam Doueihi takes out Jake Averillo
TIGERS SPILL IT! six more coming up!
WACKY WACKY STUFF from the Tigers! Sensational stuff even though Skelton didn't finish!
Both sides through their maiden sets in this first half.
Back underway for the second half.
Dolphins 18 lead Tigers 12.
Tigers chance their arm... but a great save at the death from Kodi Nikorima.
PENALTY TIGERS: Not too sure what this was for as we were in replay.
Bostock outleaps Turuva... BUT he lost it forward and it will be a changeover. Tigers survive before the half-time break. The running game of Isaiya Katoa is causing ALL SORTS!
Doueihi makes no mistake
Just when it looked like the Dolphins were going to run away with the contest, the Tigers capitalised on their first penalty of the opening stanza. A smart run from Tallyn Da Silva out of dummy half saw him outmuscle several Dolphins defenders to get the visitors to within 6.
Good hit on Royce Hunt of all people.
PENALTY TIGERS: Slow peel against Nikorima. THEY GOT ONE in this first half.
They dared on the kick return and the Tigers get into a good position.
5-0 penalty count against the Tigers at the moment.
Luai chipping for the corner - touch deep as Isaako cleans it up for the home side.
Really important period coming up here for the Tigers. It will show us just what sort of footy team they are going to be in season 2025.
Isaako nails it.
PENALTY DOLPHINS: Flop
Sunia Turuva will go on report via bunker assist for a crusher tackle.
Michael Wise called that forward clearly and there is no argument from the replay.
AVERILLO... what an escape that will be for the Tigers. Katoa is showing us this running game he has threatened to give us, a great kick in behind and Jarome Luai saves the day as he makes the lunge at Averillo.
PENALTY DOLPHINS: Tackle in the air against Jahream Bula.
Dolphins complete their set after points. Good focus on the bomb take from Jeral Skelton.
No goal
The Dolphins got back to back tries as they built momentum off the back of second phase play. Nikorima threw a dummy and went straight through some poor left edge defence and touched down despite the desperate cover tackle of Luai.
PENALTY DOLPHINS: Herbie is clipped high by Sunia Turuva.
The offloads causing some problems for the interior defence but the scramble is good.
Tigers running the ball once more on the last but Redcliffe are equal to the task.
Dolphins complete this set after points.
Isaako converts.
After a disappointing end of set, the Dolphins capitalised with a beautiful set play. Farnworth got out of dummy half to unload to Kodi Nikorima who ball played magically to Daniel Saifiti to bust away before finding Herbie Farnworth to score after setting up the earlier try.
Just not the end of set they were after.
CHALLENGE SUCCESSFUL TIGERS: Scrum 10m out.
Meanwhile Jamayne Isaako is being treated for a knee problem, he's in some pain at the moment.
Tigers are going to challenge this, the first look doesn't look great for Mr Luai.
Reason #460 on why front rowers should not kick the ball... Daniel Saifiti tried to and was immediately rejected from the kicking licence club
PENALTY DOLPHINS: Offside is the ruling against Jahream Bula and it's not a decision anyone can argue with. That being said, the Dolphins got away with one big time there as Hammer was outlept.
Good take from Skelton there!
Jarome Luai kicked that into the leagues club... that's his only blemish so far. He acknowledged it and apologised to his team-mates.
Tigers complete their set after points.
He compensated! Adam Doueihi nails it and we are level at Kayo Stadium.
The Tigers capitalised almost immediately on the Dolphins failing to complete the set after points. Some sharp work from their marquee man Jarome Luai to skip and dance fooled the Dolphins left edge. From there, it was quick hands to allow Sunia Turuva to cross for his fourth try in a fortnight.
Starford To'a has copped a clip - was in a bit of pain but it looks like a check by Herbie Farnworth - nothing illegal.
SIX MORE TIGERS: Slow peel
Felise Kaufusi loses it in the set after points. Some good contact from Terrell May, carry was very loose from Kaufusi.
With that try - that was the first one the Tigers have conceded in the first 40 of 2025.
Absolutely cracking kick from Isaako and the Dolphins lead 6-0.
One feature we missed in the opening fortnight was the running game of Jeremy Marshall-King. A smart run out of dummy half gave the Dolphins a golden opportunity. From the ensuing play the ball, a great ball from Isaiya Katoa to Herbie Farnworth allowed the English international to draw and pass to find Jack Bostock to score the first try of the contest.
SIX MORE PHINS: Ruck infringement.
This To'a and Turuva combination trying to fire once again, but Turuva just overran the offload from To'a. Good defence from Herbie there too.
Both sides through their opening sets. Dolphins starting slightly better in their set structure.
UNDERWAY ! Dolphins in their amazing new heritage strip while the Tigers are in their predominantly black strip and with first use of the football.
Referee this afternoon in QLD is Peter Gough in NRL game number 151. Michael Wise and Jarrod Cole have the flags while Grant Atkins controls the bunker from Sydney. Kickoff in 20 mins with AJ Lucantonio to take you through all the action of this one!
Onto team news, Jack Bostock comes in for Junior Tupou. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki starts in place of Tom Gilbert with Josh Kerr coming out of the side having played QLD Cup this afternoon. The Tigers are as per program.
Back home and ready to fire? That's what the Dolphins are hopeful occurs tonight when they take on the Tigers from Kayo Stadium. The Dolphins have had a rough fortnight to start the year as they battle before, during and after TC Alfred and finally get to return home in front of their home fans in Redcliffe. For the Tigers, Benji Ball came true with a big statement in the second half last week against the Eels.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Peter Gough
Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Jarrod Cole
Video Referee: Grant Atkins
DOLPHINS (18)
Tries: Jack Bostock, Herbie Farnworth, Kodi Nikorima
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)
WESTS TIGERS (30)
Tries: Sunia Turuva (2), Tallyn Da Silva, Alex Seyfarth, Apisai Koroisau
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (5/5)