Katoa’s magic display as Hammer leads Dolphins to Titans rout to keep finals dream alive

The Dolphins have kept their hopes of a maiden finals appearance alive with a rollercoaster 36-30 win against the Titans.

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MATCH CENTRE: Dolphins vs Titans live score

But there is plenty for Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf to address, as the NRL’s youngest active club allowed the last-placed Titans back into the game – twice, and two stars battled injury.

It looked like the Dolphins would saunter to victory at Suncorp Stadium when Trai Fuller scored inside the first 90 seconds and they opened an 18-0 lead after just 12 minutes.

But the Gold Coast showed the kind of fight they’ve severely lacked through the season to not only lock up the scores by halftime, but to also be within a converted try of golden point inside the last minute.

Fuller was superb, and Tevita Naufahu had his best game in the top grade as the Dolphins marked Jeremy Marshall-King’s 150th NRL game – and 50th for the Dolphins – with a victory to keep their hopes of playing finals football alive.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow left the field for half an hour after being poked in the eye, while Connelly Lemuelu missed 15 minutes due to a HIA – which he passed.

DISCRETION DISSECTION

The NRL must consider a discretion confession session this off-season with seemingly nobody sure of where the line is drawn on the advantage rule, and forward passes.

Both were thrust into the spotlight – again – during the first half of the season’s last Queensland derby.

After a Titans knock-on, Tevita Naufahu broke a tackle in an almost 30m run which was ended by a tackle which dislodged the ball, but the officials adjudicated that advantage wasn’t taken and it was brought back to the halfway line for a Dolphins scrum.

Advantage is purely at the referee’s discretion, leaving a large area of inconsistency in the game.

Two minutes later, Jaylen de Groot scored from a Chris Randall flick pass which, while a sublime bit of skill, appeared to travel a few metres forward but was cleared by the officials.

The incidents may not cause too much consternation across the game given their positions in the bottom half of the table, but they’re glaring issues the NRL must resolve in time for finals.

FINALS PICTURE

Win or go home. It’s as simple as that for the Dolphins, who still must rely on the Roosters falling to their rival Rabbitohs if they are to have a chance of playing finals footy for the first time.

Ricky Stuart is poised to rest several stars, ranging from four to as many as nine players, when the minor premier Raiders travel to Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium to face the Dolphins.

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TEAMS

Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

14. Aublix Tawha 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr. 18th man: 19. LJ Nonu

Titans team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan de Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 22. Tony Francis 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Keano Kini 15. Klese Haas 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston. 18th man: 20. Cooper Bai

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