Dolphins take home the two points in Indigenous Round

Redcliffe co-captain Max Bailey has delivered the Dolphins a much-needed win, with the lock scoring the winning try against the Northern Pride on Saturday night.

With the Hostplus Cup this week celebrating Indigenous Round, Redcliffe headed north to Cairns desperate to secure their eighth victory of the season.

Sitting two points short at 16-14 with seven minutes to go, it was getting down to the wire when five-eighth Dantoray Lui sent a barnstorming Bailey towards the line.

The co-captain slammed the ball down and a Joshua James conversion two minutes later wrapped up the match at 20-16.

It was a nail-biter between the two sides, who were playing for the GNB Energy Cup.

There was plenty on the line, with the likes of Lui, Nat McGavin and Zac Miles keen to represent their families and their cultures in Indigenous Round, while backrower Jaron Purcell was also celebrating his 50^th Hostplus Cup match.

The home side actually nabbed the first points of the game, with halfback Seamus King-Smith crossing for the Pride.

Winger McGavin then suffered a serious head knock in the 22^nd minute and was immediately ruled out of the game, adding pressure for Redcliffe.

Backrower Tom Opacic shifted to the centres, inside Will Dobson, with Will Partridge moving to McGavin’s right edge, pushing returned Dolphin LJ Nonu to the wing.

From here however, the resurgent Dolphins found instant success down their right side, with Partridge scoring back-to-back tries in the 29^th and 34^th minutes.

Redcliffe went into the break with a narrow lead at 8-6.

They returned in the second half with all the momentum, with an electric Lui dancing through the Pride defence to score a stunning try in the 52^nd minute.

But a tense 25 minutes followed.

A Jack Boyling try and two penalty goals to the Pride saw them snatch back the lead by the 71^st minute.

But the Dolphins – who have had to put on a few last-minute comebacks this year – weren’t done yet, with Lui and Bailey combining two minutes later for the finishing touches.

Redcliffe now head into Round 18 with eight wins to their name and six matches left before finals.

The Dolphins currently sit just outside the top four.

They will next week take on the Souths Logan Magpies on home turf at Kayo Stadium from 5pm.