A last minute winner to Jamayne Isaako has capped a sensational come from behind victory over the Warriors to claim their first win out of Australia in franchise history. The win has come at a cost due to the serious hamstring injury sustained to Herbie Farnworth.
Off the back of repeated infringements against the home side, the Dolphins went down the left edge in search for opening points. A nice short pass from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow found Farnworth who busted through tacklers to score the opening try of the contest.
Much was made of the Warriors spine changes this week, but the injection of Taine Tuaupiki at the back gave the Warriors some spark at the back. He was able to use his speed on the outside, while holding the pass up for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score in the corner. Farnworth was running riot early, with three linebreaks and over 100 metres, but his game ended tragically. The Englishman was in the clear before clutching his hamstring and being assisted from the field.
Despite the Warriors trying to gain the ascendancy in the aftermath of Farnworth's departure. The visitors weathered the storm and made Tuaupiki pay for an error. After a strong carry from Kurt Donoghoe, Jeremy Marshall-King atoned for an earlier botched chance to ground the ball and retake the lead.
The Warriors poor discipline continued to undo them. A crusher tackle from Sam Healey gave the Phins territory. A nice changing direction run from Jake Averillo gave the visitors attacking field position. A lofted pass was allowed to bounce due to jamming edge defence and Oryn Keeley was jolly on the spot to take possession and score.
Eventually, the amount of possession down on the Dolphins line had to lead to points for the hosts. It was similar shape to the first try and it was DWZ who beat the cover and grab himself a first half double. The home side finished with the better territory in the first half, but couldn't add to their twelve points and trailed by four at the break.
After a set-for-set grind to open the second half. The Warriors had plenty of sets on the Dolphins line and they eventually cracked on the hour mark. Following a charging run from the impactful Jacob Laban, a crossfield kick from Tanah Boyd found Leka Halasima who continued his strong rookie season by scoring in his fifth consecutive game.
The visitors looked for all money to score when Kodi Nikorima stripped them for numbers, but a DWZ intercept changed momentum and got the hosts off the hook. An abysmal penalty in possession from the Warriors gave the Dolphins some rare attacking field position. Like most of their second half possessions, it appeared to come to nothing until Katoa put boot to ball. Nikorima appeared to ground it, but despite being awarded on field, the try was overturned and the Warriors hung on.
Despite losing Felise Kaufusi to the sin-bin for an illegal tackle, the Dolphins refused to die with the football. Off a high tackle penalty, they chose to go for the win instead of the draw and it was a shift to the right edge, after going through 10 sets of hands to find Isaako to score the winner for the visitors.