Dolphins drowning early in season

By Chase Christensen  

The Dolphins have hit a rough patch, dropping three straight games and slipping down the ladder at a point in the season where consistency really matters. What’s made it more concerning is not just the losses themselves, but how they have come about, with one heavy defeat and another heartbreaking close call showing two very different sides of the team.  

The low point of this run came against the Manly Sea Eagles, where the Dolphins were handed a 52–18 hiding on their own turf. It wasn’t just the scoreline that raised eyebrows. Manly had been struggling to start the season and this was their first win, which made the result even tougher to swallow for Dolphins fans. From the outset, the home side looked off the pace. They only managed 38% of possession, meaning they were constantly on the back foot.  

Their execution didn’t help either. A 64% completion rate compared to Manly’s sharp 89% is a clear recipe for trouble in rugby league. Add in 37 missed tackles, and it paints a picture of a side that was outplayed in every area. Quite simply, the Dolphins were outclassed and never really looked like turning the game around. It was the sort of performance that leaves more questions than answers, and the bye week that followed couldn’t have come at a better time.  

Coming out of the break, they faced a completely different challenge in the Penrith Panthers, one of the competition’s benchmark sides. Early on, it looked like things were heading for another long night. Penrith raced out to an 18–0 lead, playing the sort of clinical footy they are known for. The Dolphins, to their credit, didn’t fold.  

Instead, they dug in and produced one of their most spirited responses of the season. Gradually they clawed their way back into the contest, showing resilience and a bit of spark in attack. By the second half, they had not only levelled the game but surged ahead 22–18, putting real pressure on the Panthers.  

As expected, Penrith found a way to respond late, sending the match into golden point. In that situation, there’s probably no tougher opponent than Nathan Cleary. The Dolphins had a chance to steal it with a field goal attempt but couldn’t nail it. Cleary, on the other hand, did what he so often does, calmly slotting the match winner in the 84th minute to seal it for Penrith.  

Despite the effort in that game, the reality is the Dolphins now find themselves sitting 12th on the ladder. It’s not where many expected them to be after seven rounds. Plenty of experts tipped them as a top four side this year, with some even backing them as a genuine chance at the minor premiership.  

There’s still plenty of footy to be played and the season is far from gone. The next month looms as a defining stretch, with matches against the New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne Storm, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and South Sydney Rabbitohs. With two of those games at home, there’s a real opportunity to steady the ship.  

At the same time, none of these fixtures are easy. Each one could go either way, and how the Dolphins handle this stretch will go a long way to shaping their season.