After racing to a big early lead the Dolphins lead the Cronulla Sharks 22-12 at PointsBet Stadium.
Max Plath opened the scoring off a Kenny Bromwich for the visitors before Herbie Farnworth crossed a few minutes later.
Winger Jack Bostock powered over several Cronulla defenders for his side’s third of the night before right centre Jack Averillo met a Kodi Nikorma grubber kick to blow the score out even further.
MATCH CENTRE: Sharks v Dolphins, score, stats, highlights
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It didn’t look like Cronulla were any hope of clawing their way back into it until after the 25th minute. Since then, it’s been all the Sharks.
For the second week in a row Royce Hunt has proved inspirational off the bench, scoring his sides first try and running over the top of Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa a few times.
Five minutes after Hunt’s try, Briton Nikora barged over from close range, giving his side a chance to dream of an almighty comeback at home.
Their resurgent end to the second half came off the back of their forward pack overpowering the Dolphins’ significanly smaller pack, who dominated proceedings early in the first half.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Nicho Hynes and the Cronulla Sharks will hope to make it back-to-back wins against top sides when they face the Dolphins at PointsBet Stadium.
In the first game of Beanies for Brain Cancer round, in support of the Mark Hughes Foundation, Craig Fitzgibbon’s side will be hoping to build on their impressively resilient victory over the Brisbane Broncos last time out.
Standing in their way is a Dolphins side fresh from a Round 14 bye and who are welcoming back Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Felise Kaufusi, as well as five-eighth Kodi Nikorima.
With Eels halfback Mitch Moses breathing down his neck for Origin selection, Hynes will need a massive game against the Dolphins to cement his place as the Blues’ No. 7 when Michael Maguire picks his Game I squad at the conclusion of Round 15.
Hynes’ kicking game was heavily scrutisined after the series opener in Sydney, with the Sharks halfback needing a better performance off the put to prove to Maguire, and his state, that he is the right man for the job.
When these sides last met in Round 10, 2023, the Dolphins convincingly won 36-16. Wayne Bennett will be hoping history will repeat itself, while Fitzgibbon will be hoping otherwise.
TEAMS
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Royce Hunt 18. Daniel Atkinson
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Kenny Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Oryn Keeley