Katoa Hammers Bunnies

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Dolphins v South Sydney Rabbitohs

Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa tore the Souths defence to shreds and fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow racked up 4 tries to celebrate his 100th NRL game in style.

The Bunnies opened the scoring in the third minute thanks to some superb play by Latrell Mitchell, who got outside his defender, then split the cover defence and then muscled a great offload away while being tackled, finding Jack Wighton backing up on the inside, and he scored a good try. Mitchell converted.

The Dolphins hit back in the 11th minute after having several repeat sets on the Rabbitohs line. Jeremy Marshall-King barged over from dummy half to score a classic rakes try. Jamayne Isaako converted.

The Dolphins took the lead in the 20th minute when Isaiya Katoa threw a dummy and then broke through the line before throwing a beautiful inside ball to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in support, who raced away to score under the posts. Isaako converted. 

Dolphins went further ahead in the 29th minute after Herbie Farnworth broke the line and put the Bunnies defence on the back foot. From the next play, Katoa held up a gorgeous ball for Kodi Nikorima who stepped inside the defence, who over-read the play, and he raced away through the gap to score. Isaako converted.

With 4 minutes remaining in the half, the Dolphins shifted left to Katoa who fired a stunning cut-out pass to Herbie Farnworth who was almost in the defensive line, but caught and passed the ball perfectly onto the unmarked Jake Averillo, who dived over to score in the corner. Isaako converted.

Right on the stroke of halftime Katoa held up a pass, committed the defender and then sent a great ball out to the unmarked Averillo, who raced down the wing and then kicked it infield. The ball dribbled along unhelpfully, but eventually Tabuai-Fidow regathered and scored. Isaako converted and at the break, the Dolphins were dominating, leading 30-6.

The Dolphins kept the scoreboard ticking after the break. A Dolphins bomb goes up and Alex Johnston dropped it in the contest with Max Feagai, Tabuai-Fidow casually picked up the lost ball and ran around to score. The bunker cleared it. Isaako added the extras.

Souths finally hit back in the 53rd minute courtesy of a gorgeous little play by Cody Walker on the left side, who straightened his run close to the Dolphins line and then turned it inside to Tallis Duncan who strolled in to score. Mitchell converted.

Two minutes later and Souths crossed again when Walker, again, dished a nice ball to put Duncan, again, into a gap, again and Duncan scored, again. Mitchell failed to convert.

Isaako potted a penalty goal at the hour mark of the game. 

On the 64th minute, a Rabbitohs bomb is allowed to bounce, The Rabbitohs clean it up but a forced offload is intercepted by Tabuai-Fidow who weaves through the defenders and then raced 70 metres to score. Isaako converts.

Two minutes after, Jack Wighton threw a dummy and then barged through three defenders to score. Mitchell converted.

On the 69th minute Davvy Moale stormed onto a crash ball close to the Dolphins line and he bulldozed his way through to score. Mitchell converted.

With 7 minutes remaining in the match, Kurt Donoghue took a clean intercept and raced 95 metres to score. The match rounded out with no more points, Dolphins romping home 50-28.