Penrith’s struggles on home turf continued as they suffered a 30-12 defeat to the Dolphins on Thursday night, marking an extension of their winless streak in Australia. The reigning premiers have only secured one victory this season, which came in Las Vegas, leaving their pursuit of a fifth consecutive premiership title in jeopardy.
Both teams faced early errors, but the Dolphins quickly capitalised on the situation at Suncorp Stadium. The match took a significant turn in the 25th minute when Penrith’s winger Paul Alamoti was sent off for a high tackle on Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert. This incident followed a dubious penalty near the Dolphins’ goal line, where Penrith attempted a risky chip play.
As the hosts took advantage of their numerical superiority, Gilbert scored following a strong play through the middle. Despite pleading with the referee, Nathan Cleary’s attempts to overturn Alamoti’s dismissal were unsuccessful, and commentators acknowledged that there was little argument against the referee’s decision.
While the Dolphins extended their lead to 12 points by half-time through Jake Averillo, Penrith’s defensive efforts began to fracture, illustrated by an inability to maintain rhythm and continuing penalties—five in total. Cleary was seen struggling to rally his less experienced teammates, facing the challenge of leading under pressure.
In an effort to counter their opponents, Penrith managed some scoring through Connelly Lemuelu but still exhibited disjointed play. A missed opportunity for the Dolphins was capitalised on by Penrith, leading to a try for Moses Leota amidst a series of errors from the Dolphins’ Jack Bostock.
However, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow sealed the fate of the match by completing a remarkable individual effort, securing a hat-trick with an 80-metre run. His earlier tries, bolstered by impressive teamwork with Herbie Farnworth, had set the tone for the Dolphins, who performed strongly throughout the match.
Concerns were expressed over Penrith’s ability to reach the finals, especially during the origin period when they typically rest players. As commentators noted, the team appears to lack the power needed to dominate in the middle of the field, a critical element for success in the competition.
With their performance clearly revealing areas for improvement, Penrith faces pressing questions as they attempt to reclaim their status and make a mark on this season of the NRL.