Dolphins advance in Cup and BRL finals in thrilling day at Kayo
The Redcliffe Dolphins have enjoyed a Hostplus Cup and BRL A-grade finals clean sweep on Saturday, with both teams progressing to the next stage.
In two gritty matches at Kayo Stadium, the Cup side overcame a resurgent PNG Hunters 32-12 while the BRL team endured an arm wrestle against Carina Tigers to triumph 10-6.
The BRL have now advanced straight to the grand final on the weekend of September 20 while Cup will head to Townsville next weekend to take on the Blackhawks in another do-or-die finals showdown.
In the Hostplus Cup match, the Dolphins got off to a near-perfect start, running in four tries to none within the first 18 minutes of the game.
Lock Sheldon Pitama, centre Will Partridge, five-eighth Dantoray Lui and prop Josh Allen all crossed unanswered, setting the stage for a promising outcome.
However, the Hunters didn’t throw in the towel and responded right before halftime through winger Douglas David.
To start the second half, PNG carried through that momentum, with tries to Sanny Wabo and David bringing them within 10 points of Redcliffe.
But the Dolphins managed to find another gear, with Max Feagai and Will Dobson both scoring to close out the game at 32-12.
Will Dobson scores to close out the match.
Pitama said it showed once again how much resilience the Dolphins have, but knows they need to stem momentum changes throughout their games if they want to keep progressing further into finals.
“They don’t go away for the 80 minutes, regardless of the scoreboard,” Pitama said of the Hunters.
“The start was perfect. We knew versing a team like the Hunters, they’re such a momentum team, so if you give them a sniff and an inch, they take a mile.
“Moving further into finals, we’ll have to fix that part of our game because there’s no second chances in this part of the season.
“We’ve worked hard throughout the whole pre-season, throughout the season. We haven’t taken the foot off the throttle when it comes to training.
“I back us to hold in there in nitty gritty games. And I think in the last three weeks, the bond between the boys has been really strong and right now we’re playing for each other.”
In the BRL, prop Jack Cullen scored the first try of what turned into a tight match against the Tigers.
Just 11 minutes in, the Dolphins went up 6-0 before the Tigers responded in the 24th.
The two teams carried the deadlock into the break and a tense and gritty second half ensued, with both showing plenty of guts throughout the battle.
But it was Redcliffe winger Steven Numambo who proved to be the try-scoring hero, leaping up to collect a kick and score in the corner.
The Dolphins had to defend that lead for 15 minutes – with the Tigers throwing everything at them – but they managed to hold on for their grand final berth.
Cullen said afterwards their focus on defence is what got them through the match, with every player fighting for every moment.
“We definitely made it hard on ourselves,” he said.
“But we said before the game that finals sometimes never go your way and you always face adversity.
“We knew it was going to be a tough one and credit to all the boys with our D. I thought our D was just amazing, especially on the line.
“It’s what we’re building and that’s all we’re working every week, is just sharking from the inside.
“Everyone was positive. We’re all talking and the whole game we just worked super hard and that’s how you win finals games.
“Again, in the grand final in two weeks, that’s going to be the same.”
Cullen, who joined the Dolphins midway through the season, said he already feels right at home in the red and white and can’t wait to fight for his first premiership title in a long time.
“Everyone’s welcomed me in,” he said.
“I actually haven’t played a grand final in a few years now. So, it’s good to be back playing finals footy and now the big one in two weeks.
“There’s no excuse not to get up for it.”
In BRL reserve grade, the Brighton Roosters were unable to stop a Carina comeback, going down 34-32.
They will earn another shot at the grand final when they take on the West Brisbane Panthers next weekend in the preliminary final.