Dolphins hold heads high after losing to Broncos

It wasn’t the dream result they wanted, but the Redcliffe Dolphins certainly held their own against the Brisbane Broncos in the ultimate grudge match in round four of competition. With both teams going in with three wins under their belts, it was always going to be a tough game to see who would reign supreme and take the bragging rights in the battle of Brisbane.

Tensions were high as the two local teams took to the field at Suncorp in an epic match of Friday night football on March 24. Many likened the sold-out match to an atmosphere of State of Origin proportions.

It was looking to be a low-scoring game with the Broncos in the lead 4-0 at halftime. It was 8-0 in the 50th minute and things were starting to look dire for the Dolphins. But just eight minutes later the Dolphins were on the scoreboard and things were back to an even playing field. Soon, they would take the lead to 12-8 with tensions rising across the ground. Could the Broncos be beaten by their local rivals?

In the last 10 minutes of the match, the Broncos showed their strength and sheer determination by crossing the line and regaining their lead. It was a 100-metre run in the final minutes by Broncos Kotoni Staggs which clinched the victory for Brisbane with an 18-12 win over the Dolphins.

Missing from the match was Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi, who was found guilty by the Match Review Committee following the Dolphins round three game against the Newcastle Knights. Kaufusi was put on report twice and sin binned in the game, with a late hit on Jackson Hastings the focus of the committee’s sentencing. Kaufusi will now serve a four-game ban, instead of only a three-game suspension if he took the early guilty plea after he was found to be unanimously guilty by the panel.

Although it was their first loss of the season so far, the Dolphins showed they have what it takes to be a team to watch out for in their inaugural season.

Upcoming matches include another Queensland derby when they battle the Cowboys in Townsville on April 7 and then back at Suncorp Stadium on April 13 to take on the Rabbitohs and April 23 against the Titans.