I had my weekly chat on the phone with Liam this afternoon just before the Dolphins v Roosters match kicked off. He was keen to watch the game; I was reluctant but I said I’d have it on in the background as I did other things. I expressed a hope that the Dolphins would achieve a respectable scoreline against the perennial premiership threats, the Roosters – perhaps a competitive 10-30 defeat. I feared something more like 0-40+.
‘Cassandra!’ I hear RDL crowing. Fair call, Roger, but I plead with you to look at the empirical evidence. Who could possibly tip a first-time team made up of a few (some might say) ‘just over the hill’ veterans, several journeymen, a couple of solid blokes in their better years and a motley collection for the rest? Especially when they’re up against the ‘Billionaires of Bondi’, the mighty Roosters, a team I expect to play in this year’s Grand Final. David v Goliath, Qld v NSW 1995, Sunderland v Leeds 1973 FA Cup Final, etc, etc.
Well, what do you say when the underdogs display self-belief, rip in, defend as if their lives depend on it, and show unexpected flair in attack. 12-12 at the break; four tries in a row either side of half-time, three of them in a 10-minute burst after the break. Un-bloody-believeable! Kaufusi, Marshall-King, O’Sullivan, ‘Hammer’, and on and on.
Yes, the Roosters had a few injuries but a 62% completion rate won’t win games against anyone. (The Dolphins operated at 80%.) A sin binning doesn’t help but that’s the player’s fault. Seven penalties conceded to two for you, and over a dozen errors isn’t a good effort. Out-enthused and ambushed.
And where does this leave Wayne Bennett? Think Broncos inaugural match v Manly in 1988 – a 44-10 thumping of the reigning premiers; Queensland 1987-89; State of Origin 2001, Game 1 – a smashing Maroon victory under the old stager after the 56-16 thrashing at the end of the 2000 series, and then the return of Alfie for the decider. Premierships galore – seven at last count. Unt so weiter. The Sunday Mail suggested that he might be King – a crown only allowed to Wally Lewis to date. After today perhaps they are co-regents.
I lived on the Redcliffe peninsula for 23 years from 1990. Liam and I used to go to Dolphin Oval to watch the mighty Phins go around in the BRL and the Queensland Cup. Saw a good number of premierships. Who can forget 1997 and Anthony Singleton’s after-the-siren conversion from wide out on the left that curved beautifully on the south-easterly breeze to nail an 18-16 win for the flag? Lots of great Sunday afternoons out on the western mound of Dolphin Oval while the Old Boys Can Bar did a roaring trade. Long-held dreams that the Dolphins might one day play in the NRL given the club’s strong juniors base and financially strong leagues club. A day to remember for the likes of Bob Jones, Des Webb, Henry Holloway, Artie Beetson, Peter Leis, Steve Cherry, Bunny Pierce, Henry Holder, Iggy Graham, Troy Lindsay, Waverley Stanley, Wayne Miller and a hundred more, some living and some watching from the sideline in the sky.
So mark down March 5, 2023 in rugby league history. The day the Dolphins made the grade and cooked the Chooks. Blow the minor season siren now. The Dolphins are second on the ladder and assured of the double chance. How many pages will they get in The Courier Mail on Monday? My guess is a minimum 6 – front and back pages, probably 2 more around about pages 4-5, and another couple in the sports section. Maybe even the cartoon on the editorial page.
At our place, we cracked a bottle of sparkling tonight to celebrate – not Bondi Bollinger, but the more humble Jacob’s Creek Reserve to honour a club that grew from very humble beginnings over 70 years ago.
Go Phins!
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A former teacher with a (very) modest sporting CV enjoying his retirement years. A Queenslander through and through, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, McWilliam’s Cream Apera and a glass or three of wine. Footy Almanac’s Thursday online editor who moonlights as a hobby editor.
The Dolphins were pumped Ian and their leaders stood up. Looks like a big fan base already. The Derby v the Broncos should be a beauty. Whether they can maintain that intensity remains to be seen. New clubs have a good record for game one like West Coast and Adelaide. Great to see the Roosters cop it for a change!
Wayne here.
It’s typical of you media blokes to knock something you don’t understand. It’s a simple game really, you score more points than the opposition, you win, but i doubt you media blokes would quite grasp the concept.
Anyway, I’m not happy, they should have played better in the first half…
Cassandra would not be very happy with you Ian.
Your prediction was wrong whereas she was always correct even though people refused to believe her.
Never mind mate. She is a hard act to follow!
RDL
Extraordinary performance, Ian, properly noted on the Almanac. Thank you also for referencing (my) Sunderland’s magnificent FA Cup victory, 1973 .This was very timely, as on Saturday the Mackems/Black Cats contrived to lose 1-5 at home to Stoke, a fellow contender for the play-offs (with the piquant touch that the Stoke manager jumped ship from the job at Sunderland a few matches into the current season).
Btw, Ian, you may also have noted that the despised Brisbane (Carrara) Bears contrived to win their opening two matches in 1987, beating North Melbourne and Geelong (both away). North managed to play finals, although suffering an ignominious defeat in the elimination final against Melbourne.
Later additional teams haven’t managed the feat of a victory at their first encounter.
Wasn’t it grand! I couldn’t help but think of Rupert McCall while I was watching it. A mad keen Dolphins man from way back.
Yes, DB, Rupert has strong links to the peninsula. So too the actor William McInnes who grew up just off Oxley Avenue near the fire station.
Excellent piece Ian and Redcliffe have always played a forward dominating game. I can remember like all former BRL players that crossing the Hornibrook to the north meant a return to the south battered and bruised in the afternoon regardless of the grade, score or who sang the victory song! WB clearly tapped into that DNA and as you point out added another string to a very full bow. It will be a start to remember and interestingly Redcliffe would have put the sword through either of the Leichhardt Oval combatants. Of course the other big news about the start of the footy season is that the famous Prawn Lunch is on tomorrow! Hopefully my team will give the prawns a hiding similar to what Redcliffe can do to Ricky’s men in green at Kippa-Ring!