Today was a rare day in which a new team made their debut in the NRL.
Former England and Great Britain boss and the man who brought Brisbane Broncos to the league to amazing success a long time ago Wayne Bennett was at the helm as the NRL new boys The Dolphins hosted one of the Premiership favourites in the shape of Trent Robinson’s Sydney Roosters.
After the defeat of Champions Penrith Panthers, a win for the Roosters would have been the perfect way to cement themselves as title challengers.
However, in front of 32,000 Dolphins fans, it always seemed that something special was brewing.
The Roosters did get off to the better start when star youngster Joseph Suali’i got the opening try before Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made history scoring the Dolphins’ first ever try in the NRL.
Tries from Nicholls and Hutchinson ensured that the game was level at 12-all at halftime.
Crucially the Dolphins scored first in the second half through Lemuelu with Isaako converting again. He was having a terrific game and the first 20 minutes of the second half he ran the show scoring 12 points as he scored two tries and nailed two conversions to take the Dolphins 28-12 ahead before the hour mark.
The Roosters went down to 12 men when Butcher was sin binned but in his absence potentially Super League bound Daniel Tupou gave them hope but the game was The Dolphins’.
It was a good day for former St Helens boss Kristian Wool who is the assistant as The Dolphins ready to take over one day.
Ex-Wigan Warriors man Oliver Gildart didn’t feature.