Dolphins vs St George Illawarra Dragons, match wrap, teams, SuperCoach scores, videos, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tyrell Sloan

The Dolphins have bounced back after a disappointing Round 1 performance to destroy the Dragons 38-0 at Kayo Stadium.

Since joining the NRL at the start of the 2023 season, this display saw the 17th franchise record their highest-ever score, biggest-ever win and it was also the first time they’ve kept a team to zero.

Wayne Bennett’s men flew out of the gates with an intensity that was lacking against the Cowboys a week prior, scoring twice within 10 minutes.

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The first four-pointer came from a smart Jack Bostock run, reeling in a Ben Hunt bomb before finding his fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in space.

Then three minutes later Kodi Nikorima found Jamayne Isaako on the wing with a perfect kick, soaring high above Mikaele Ravalawa.

It took another 38 minutes for another try to be scored, and it was an unlikely man in Mark Nicholls who charged over the line.

The experienced prop steamed onto a Jeremy Marshall-King short ball to score virtually untouched.

Bulldogs recruit Jake Averillo was next to cross, flying onto a beautiful Isaiya Katoa pass that handed him his first points as a Dolphin.

Tabuai-Fidow then scored a second, once again being assisted by Bostock who was able to put a kick back infield to find his fullback.

It was truly one-way traffic at Kayo Stadium and Marshall-King then got in on the action, darting out of dummy half to score.

Tabuai-Fidow went on to finish off his hattrick with a dancing effort before Francis Molo was sent to the sin bin, with the Dragons ending the game with 12 men.

To end the game, Tyrell Sloan was also denied in ugly fashion, with Tabuai-Fidow knocking the ball from his grasp to stop what looked like a certain try.

Marshall-King was also hit with one of the “greatest Falcons of all time”, copping a brutal ball to the face from a Ben Hunt kick.

The hooker left the field for a head knock assessment but was luckily cleared to return to the field despite the ugly blow.

Fox League’s Andrew Voss was stunned by the blow and said: “lucky your head is well attached to your neck”.

“We’ve seemed some beauties over the years, but this… I don’t know what to say, wow,” he added.

Read below for all the big talking points out of tonight’s clash!

THE DOLPHINS’ RESPONSE

“We had a bad day”.

That was Wayne Bennett’s assessment of the Dolphins’ Round 1 display and the writing was on the wall for his side to bounce back against the Dragons.

The NRL newcomers flew out of the blocks and scored two tries within nine minutes to take a 10-0 lead they carried all the way to halftime.

After a feeble defensive display against the Cowboys a week earlier, Bennett’s men looked rock solid and were also flicking the ball around with ease.

Rugby league legends Michael Ennis and Corey Parker hailed the Dolphins’ turnaround after a disaster class to open their season.

“There’s been a completely different intent and different purpose from the Dolphins today and we knew that would be the case,” Ennis said.

“He was after a response from Wayne Bennett and he’s certainly got that, they are playing fast, up-tempo style of football,” Parker said.

Isaiya Katoa, Euan Aitken and Jake Averillo all played their first games for the season and their inclusion provided a huge spark.

Fox League’s Matty Johns predicted that the Dolphins would bounce back, citing Bennett’s siege mentality after a poor display.

“After last week, there is nothing surer than the fact the Dolphins will just come back out and fire,” Johns said.

“Whether he was happy to just lose that first game and light a fire, who knows.”

THE HAMMER CATCHES FIRE

He hadn’t scored for six games prior to the Dragons clash, but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow did well and truly made up for it on Sunday night.

The Dolphins flyer scored a hattrick, the first of his career, stunning the Dragons in a comprehensive display.

His third try was simply excellent, dancing around multiple defenders before charging his way to the tryline to completely dismantle the opposition defense.

“He’s unbelievable isn’t he, not only place, sit back and enjoy the footwork here, what a player, that is some sort of try,” Steve Roach said.

“He’s a hero of so many, he’s one of the many reasons why you eat and watch rugby league… he is superstar class,” Andrew Voss said.

Tabuai-Fidow also showed his dazzling speed with his first two tries, charging onto a Jack Bostock pass and kick before burning past the Dragons cover defense.

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LOMAX SHINES AGAIN

For a man who’s reportedly unhappy to be playing on the wing, Zac Lomax is certainly delivering.

Lomax told foxsports.com.au he believes his best position is in the centres, but coach Shane Flanagan made the tough call to shift him wider.

The 24-year-old played a crucial role in the Red V’s Round 1 win over the Titans and was then arguably the best on the park for the Dragons against the Dolphins.

In the first half Lomax had already recorded 16 runs for 90 meters and continued that form in the second.

He finished the clash with 170 running metres, three tackle breaks and an offload in a performance that was slammed by league legend Nathan Hindmarsh.

“It was a massive fall from grace from the Dragons, I thought the Dragons were quite poor tonight,” Hindmarsh said.

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