The Dolphins have held off a second half surge from the Cowboys to win 32-22 in an entertaining contest in Townsville on the back of a Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow masterclass.
Tabuai-Fidow crossed for a double, including the match-sealing try in the final minutes as he exacted revenge on his former side.
MATCH CENTRE: North Queensland Cowboys vs Dolphins live scores, stats.
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Winger Jamayne Isaako scored a first-half hat-trick, including a very acrobatic leap to snare a perfectly placed Isaiya Katoa kick and place it down just inside the field of play.
That try made it 8-0 after 13 minutes but not long after, Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt went over for the first of his two tries.
The first half wasn’t short of controversy with Cowboys forward Coen Hess (late hit – 26th minute) and Dolphins half Kodi Nikorima (dangerous tackle – 37th minute) both sin-binned for separare incidents.
“Katoa was smashed down after passing,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League referring the Hess incident.
“We all know the rules…When a ball player passes or anyone lets the ball go, he’s relaxed,” Shane Flanagan added.
“I agree with it being 10 minutes in the bin.”
Regarding the Nikorima dangerous tackle, Voss said: “It was head first into the ground. I think he is gone here and now the Dolphins are going to be down 12.”
“There wasn’t a lot in it, but that’s where we are in the game at the moment,” Greg Alexander added in the half-time show.
Both teams took advantage of the extra man, with Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako and Feldt scoring for their respective teams with the Dolphins going into the sheds with a 26-12 lead.
The Cowboys had a number of chances in the second half but poor ball control, erratic passes and stout defence from the Dolphins thrawted North Queensland’s attack.
The Cowboys would end up scoring twice in the second half through Coen Hess and Valentine Holmes to set up a grandstand finish, but the Dolphins held fat with Tabuai-Fidow’s 80th minute try wrapped up a deserving win for the NRL’s newest side.
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