Canterbury Bulldogs faced their second defeat of the season, suffering a significant 44-8 loss to the Dolphins on a rain-soaked night. The challenging conditions led to chaos on the field, with player Kurt Donoghoe sustaining a broken nose but impressively returning just 15 minutes later, much to the surprise of commentators like Andrew Johns.
Despite an early scare when Matt Burton briefly left the field for a head injury assessment, the match kicked off with an exciting one-handed try by Jamayne Isaako, giving the Dolphins an initial lead. Canterbury responded through Lipoi Hopoi, levelling the score momentarily. However, just before halftime, a defensive mishap allowed Jack Bostock to score, swinging the momentum in favour of the Dolphins.
The lead inspired the Dolphins, who extended their advantage after the break with a try from Harrison Graham. Tensions escalated when Donoghoe was put on report for a late tackle that endangered Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton, prompting Reed Mahoney to retaliate, resulting in a heated altercation on the field. The referee issued a warning to Mahoney for his involvement, although there were criticisms about the handling of the situation.
The escalating rivalry appeared to fuel the Dolphins’ performance, leading to a “soft” try by Herbie Farnworth, followed by Francis Molo scoring his first try for the Dolphins. Jake Averillo later added to the tally with a final try, defeating his former club. Donoghoe capped off an eventful night with a late try, earning accolades from Johns who remarked that no one deserved a try more.