The Dolphins were at home to the Cowboys to launch Round 20 of the NRL Telstra Premiership, with both sides desperate for a win to keep the hopes of finals alive. 

The two teams were coming off defeats, but with the Origin period behind them, the likes of Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow were on deck to help get their teams back on track.

However, it was the home side who prevailed in a high-scoring match up, defying the statistics to post a dominant win. 

Follow all the Round 20 action on NRL.com’s live blog.

Dolphins v Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium

Post match

Cowboys


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Cowboys – Round 20

Dolphins


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Dolphins – Round 20

Full-time: The Dolphins defied all the statistics in the first half to set up what was a dominant 43-24 win – despite a mini-fightback in the second half – over the Cowboys. Critical of his performance last week, halfback Isaiya Katoa stepped up this game, but huge efforts from his halves partner Jake Averillo and second rower Connelly Lemuelu proved vital. The Dolphins have the bye next week, but the Cowboys will be at home against the Dragons. 

79th min: Katoa slots a field goal from right in front and puts a cherry on top for the Dolphins who lead 43-24. 

76th min: Some breathing space again for the Dolphins with their fifth try from their own half. Another burst from Lemuelu down the left edge after a direct pass from Katoa to set up Averillo on his outside. There were a blanket of Dolphins running alongside him, giving him plenty of passing options. Isaako converts and it’s 42-24. 

68th min: Another penalty given up by the Cowboys for a crusher tackle and the home side opt to take a penalty goal. Isaako slots it to push them out to a 36-24 lead. 

67th min: An important captain’s challenge is successful from the Dolphins. Originally pinged for a bad play-the-ball, Isaako challenges and the Bunker finds that Cotter walks back through the ruck, interfering with play. 

64th min: Here we go. Game back on. Cowboy get their third in a row in a remarkable play finished by none other Tom Dearden. A lack of urgency at the back from the Dolphins and they pay, with desperate Cowboys swarming to the ball, with Dearden stepping out of the clutches of Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow and scores. Drinkwater converts and it’s 34-24. 

61st min: It’s back-to-back tries for the Cowboys after Jaxon Purdue makes a break down the left side, passing back for a trailing Drinkwater to go over under the posts. Drinkwater converts and it’s 34-18. 

Injury update – Taulagi ruled out for the night with a left hamstring issue sustained after scoring a try. 

56th min: Some joy for the Cowboys with Taulagi getting a second down the left side after the Cowboys got a penalty and some back-to-back sets in attack. However, it looks to have come at a cost, who came up clutching his hamstring and has left the field. Drinkwater converts and it’s 34-12. 

52nd min: Oryn Keeley put on report for a dangerous tackle on Jaxson Paulo.

47th min: More points for the Dolphins, with Max Feagai setting up Isaako for a try down their right edge. The former Dragons gets a short pass from Katoa and bursts through and could almost have gone himself, but passes to his winger. Isaako can’t convert his own try and it’s 34-6. 

45th min: And it’s more of the same to start the second half, with Harrison Graham sneaking his arm over, despite the attention of three defenders from dummy half. The Dolphins have enjoyed some sustained attack in the lead up, with break through the middle once again, but Drinkwater did well to stop the Hammer on his way to the line. However, a few six-agains heaped more pressure on the Cowboys who let in another try. Isaako converts and it’s 30-6. 


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Harrison Graham Try

Crowd: There are 23, 172 in the house.

Halftime: The Dolphins go into the break with an imposing 24-6 lead at the break, somehow. They have only had 46 percent of the possession, a completion rate of 14/19 compared to 16/19 for the Cowboys and seven errors compared to three from the Cowboys. However, when they get things together in their attack, they can strike from anywhere, with number of tries starting deep within their own half. Despite some nice looking patches at times for the Cowboys, once again it’s their defence that is letting them down, and while they have fewer tackles, the ones they have are proving costly. 

37th min: Hammer with a double. The Dolphins make a break through the middle after some passing out to their left to find Connelly Lemuelu who streaks away before he passes back inside to his fullback. Isaako converts and it’s now 24-6. 

24th min: And another try to the Dolphins with the Hammer getting in on the act. Farnworth runs down the left side and passes back inside to his fullback to score another. Isaako converts and it’s suddenly 18-6 against the run of play. 

21st min: Jake Averillo with an individual effort to put the Dolphins further in front, scooping up a Cowboys spill in his 10 and sprinting 90 metres to score. Isaako misses the conversion and the Dolphins lead 12-6. 


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Jake Averillo Try

19th min: Isaako puts the Dolphins in front with a penalty goal after Jeremiah Nanai ran Farnworth off the chase. Dolphins lead 8-6.

8th min: The Cowboys hit back soon after with an impressive try of their own. Off the back of a scrum in their attacking 10, the Cowboys go right before sending the ball back out to the left, with Scott Drinkwater firing a pass out to Murray Taulagi who flies over untouched. Drinkwater’s conversion hits the post and goes over and it’s 6-6. 


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Murray Taulagi Try

3rd min: First try of the night to the Dolphins with Oryn Keeley running through a gaping hole down their right edge off a pass from his halfback Isaiya Katoa, with the Dolphins attacking in their own 10. Set up after a strong run from Herbie Farnworth that sucked defenders in, Jamayne Isaako slots the conversion for a 6-0 lead. 

Kick off: The Cowboys kick off and the Dolphins have the first use of the ball at home. 


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Hammer: “Back here at Suncorp. It’s our home aswell”

Late Mail

Dolphins: Sean O’Sullivan has dropped out on Wednesday with Jake Averillo moving to five-eighth and last week’s debutant Tevita Naufahu joining the starting side on the wing after originally being named 18th man. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (thumb) and Mark Nicholls (concussion) have been ruled out, with Connelly Lemuelu coming into the starting side and Harrison Graham and Peter Hola added to the bench. No changes before kick off, with Kenny Bromwich remaining as the replacement player in 19. 

Cowboys: Jaxson Paulo is set for his first match since Round 14 and has been called on to the wing in place of Robert Derby, who will play Queensland Cup with Northern Pride. Jordan McLean has also been ruled out with a calf injury, with Thomas Mikaele set to start at prop for the first time this year. No late changes for the Cowboys on game day. 

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