It seems the more challenges that get thrown at the Dolphins in their inaugural season the more they fight and that was in evidence again on Good Friday as they stunned the Cowboys in Townsville.
Wayne Bennett's men headed north without inspirational skipper Jesse Bromwich and playmakers Sean O'Sullivan and Anthony Milford, but exploded out of the blocks with an early double to Jamayne Isaako and never looked back.
In Round 7 they come up against South Sydney, the club Bennett led to the 2021 grand final and a side riding high after a Good Friday demolition of the Bulldogs.
Playing his 150th NRL game, superstar fuillback Latrell Mitchell was in devastating form for the Rabbitohs with a hat-trick of tries, two try assists and 191 running metres, and he'll have the Dolphins on red alert every time he touches the ball.
Opposing fullback Isaako has been superb in the opening six rounds, leading the NRL pointscoring table with 72 and sitting equal top of the tryscoring with teammate Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on eight tries.
The Suncorp Stadium crowd should be in for a feast of attacking football as Isaako and 'Hammer' pit their speed and skill against Mitchell, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham, who also helped himself to a Good Friday hat-trick.
Match: Dolphins v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Dolphins
6th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
4th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Team News
Dolphins: No late changes for Wayne Bennett's men, with captain Jesse Bromwich returning and Ray Stone starting at prop. Poasa Faamausili is the 18th man. Jarrod Wallace is out after suffering a Category 1 concussion with JJ Collins coming onto the bench.
Rabbitohs: A switch an hour before kick-off sees Jai Arrow revert to the bench in his return from a hamstring injury, with Hame Sele starting at prop. Mid-week Taane Milne replaced Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson (ankle) on the wing, with Blake Taaffe becoming the new 18th man. Alex Johnston is back from time out with a head knock.
Match: Dolphins v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Dolphins
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
-
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
-
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan AitkenCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
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Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Brenko LeeCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
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Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Robert JenningsWinger for Rabbitohs is number 18 Taane Milne
-
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
-
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya KatoaHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
Forwards
-
Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse BromwichProp for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
-
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-KingHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
-
Prop for Dolphins is number 16 Ray StoneProp for Rabbitohs is number 17 Hame Sele
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2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kenneath Bromwich2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
-
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host
-
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Tom GilbertLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 10 Herman Ese'eseInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 8 Jai Arrow
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 JJ CollinsInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jed Cartwright
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark NichollsInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Kurt DonoghoeInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy Moale
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Poasa FaamausiliReplacement for Rabbitohs is number 19 Blake Taaffe
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has won his last seven games coaching against the Rabbitohs.
- Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker has scored four tries in his past three games.
- Winger Jamayne Isaako has scored over half of the Dolphins’ points (72 out of 140).
- Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 11 tries in his past nine games at Suncorp Stadium.
- Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has the chance to break the record for consecutive tryscoring for a new club.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .
