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Dolphins v Dragons: Nicholls back, Milford to start; Sullivan in for Hunt

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After the euphoria of a last-gasp victory over the Roosters last week, the Dragons head north to face a Dolphins side who went down to the Storm in a fiery Round 12 encounter. 

Days on from the club parting ways with former coach Anthony Griffin, the Dragons dominated large parts of the game against the Tricolours but still needed a miraculous try on the last kick of the game to secure their third win of the year. 

The Dolphins meanwhile will be seeking a bounce back in Round 13 after discipline let them down in an otherwise solid effort against the Storm last week. 

The Round 5 meeting between these two sides was arguably the Dragons' best showing of the season and the Dolphins' worst, with St George Illawarra running out 38-12 winners in Wollongong. 

In their only other game at Kayo Stadium so far the Dolphins beat the Raiders, while Wayne Bennett's side have won five of their eight games on Queensland soil. 

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Team News

Dolphins: Will take the field as named on Tuesday, with a stack of changes from Round 12. Brenko Lee is good to go in the centres after appearing to be carrying an injury during the week, so Valynce Te Whare remains on the bench. Kodi Nikorima will play fullback, while Mark Nicholls (thumb) returns. 

Dragons: No late changes, with Jack Bird returning after a week off with knee soreness in Round 12. Jayden Sullivan gets the halfback job made vacant by Ben Hunt's Queensland selection, while Michael Molo comes in for the injured Blake Lawrie (finger) and will start in the front row alongside brother Francis. Moses Mbye returns to the bench after being 18th man last week.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Kodi Nikorima
    Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
  • Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
    Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
  • Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan Aitken
    Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
  • Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Brenko Lee
    Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
  • Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi Niu
    Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
  • Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Anthony Milford
    Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone
  • Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
    Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Jayden Sullivan

Forwards

  • Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
    Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
  • Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
    Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
  • Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Herman Ese'ese
    Prop for Dragons is number 10 Michael Molo
  • 2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kenneath Bromwich
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Jack Bird
  • 2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Ben Murdoch-Masila 
  • Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Ray Stone
    Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Jarrod Wallace
    Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Moses Mbye
  • Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark Nicholls
    Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Toby Couchman
  • Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Mason Teague
    Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jaiyden Hunt
  • Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Valynce Te Whare
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh Kerr

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Poasa Faamausili
    Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Billy Burns

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Todd Smith
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Dolphins defeated the Raiders 20-14 in their only previous clash at Kayo Stadium.
  • The Dragons have won only one of their past 20 games played outside New South Wales.
  • Dolphins mentor Wayne Bennett has coached 900 games more than Dragons counterpart Ryan Carr.
  • Ryan Carr is aiming to become the first caretaker coach since 2011 to win his first two games.
  • Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako will make his 100th NRL appearance.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.