Bring on the Battle for Brisbane.

Sharks may be the apex predators in the water, but the Dolphins now rule Ocean Protect Stadium after they stunned Cronulla on their home deck to make it back-to-back wins with one of their most impressive performances since entering the competition.

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The win ends the Sharks’ eight game winning streak at home.

After grinding past the Titans last week, the Dolphins looked much more polished in their 38-10 victory on Saturday night with Herbie Farnworth proving to be an attacking menace on the left edge.

At 18-10 with ten minutes to play, the game was right in the balance before the Dolphins scored three tries in the final five minutes to inflate the scoreline.

“The Dolphins have sliced up the Sharks late,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.

Coach Kristian Woolf has seen his side pile on the points during his time in charge, but he would have been thrilled with their defence as they slowed the Sharks down and took the crowd out of the contest.

Jake Averillo broke the deadlock after a dour start to the contest before their strike weapons started to take over, with halfback Isaiya Katoa throwing a stunning long ball to set up Jamayne Isaako for a try.

But it was their defence that won them the contest with a desperate play to deny Sam Stonestreet with 18 minutes to go proving crucial as they built more momentum heading into next week’s blockbuster derby with the Broncos.

Woolf breaks down Phins’ defensive boost | 06:57

BIG HITS

Herbie fully loaded

The game is blessed with some superstar centres at the moment, with Herbie Farnworth wreaking havoc just a few nights after Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton led from the front in the nation’s capital.

Young gun Casey McLean is an emerging talent, but he still has a way to go to match it with guys like Farnworth who was the best player on the field in the first half.

The Englishman had five tackle busts, four offloads and set up a crucial try on the stroke of half-time for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as he completely dominated Jesse Ramien on that side of the field.

Farnworth impressed for the Dolphins.Source: FOX SPORTS

Point of order

They looked unstoppable in round one when they put 50 on the Titans, but the Sharks have managed just three tries since then and now head into next week’s tough trip to Canberra with a 1-2 record.

The speed of their attack in the opening round wasn’t there on Saturday as they looked off the pace from the opening whistle.

Braydon Trindall scored a try in game 100 but that was the extent of their celebrations as they slumped to a second-straight loss.

Toby Rudolf was the only forward who bent back the line, with some of the big-name starters needing to fire up next week against Canberra’s monster pack to give their halves the chance to shine.

Even their defence capitulated with the visitors scoring three soft tries in the final six minutes.

Panel MARVELS at wild Katoa cut-out pass | 00:42

Brailey on report

Sharks skipper Blayke Brailey has a nervous wait for the charges to drop after he was placed on report for tripping Tabuai-Fidow as he chased a kick in the second half.

The tireless dummy-half was bemused by the call which allowed the Dolphins to take an 18-10 lead with 25 minutes to go.

Jesse Ramien was also placed on report for a high tackle. He had a Grade 1 Shoulder Charge last week against Penrith.

STAT ATTACK (Via Fox Lab)

– Dolphins’ equal second biggest win outside Queensland.

– Three from four wins for Dolphins v Sharks – their second best record against any opponent

– Sharks loss snaps an eight game winning streak at Cronulla

– First time since rounds 2 and 3 of 2021 that the Sharks have scored 10 points or less in consecutive games

– Jake Averillo scored the 12th try double of his career – first against the Sharks. Cracked 170 metres for just the fourth time in his career.

– Fox Lab’s POTM was Isaiya Katoa. He had a hand in four of the six Dolphins tries (2 assists, two contributions) including an absolute bullet pass for the Isaako try in the first half.