GOAT gruff over lesson Dolphins must learn fast
Joel Gould |
The Dolphins must focus on winning the game and not the fight as they prepare for the derby clash with Brisbane.
That’s the view of veteran prop Mark Nicholls after the club’s biggest loss.
A win against the Broncos for the eighth-placed Dolphins will go a long way towards securing a maiden NRL finals berth, but a loss on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium has the potential to send them back to ninth.
Nicholls is universally known as “GOAT” and was in a gruff mood when asked about the controversial sin-binnings of Dolphins duo Frank Molo and Aublix Tawha in the 64-12 loss to the Sydney Roosters.
He was more interested in the lesson the Dolphins must learn, rather than the legitimacy of the decision.
The Dolphins got sidetracked against the Roosters after Tricolours pantomime villain Spencer Leniu got under their skin early and instigated a fracas.
Leniu’s teammate Naufahu Whyte and Dolphins pair Molo and Tawha all found themselves in the sin bin in the ninth minute. Most commentators agree Leniu should have been the only one binned, but the Dolphins did not recover from that incident.
Molo was charged for a careless high tackle later in the match and is suspended for the Broncos clash, as is veteran forward Felise Kaufusi.
Emotion is fine, but Leniu had the last laugh and the Dolphins got whipped. Now they must move on and learn.
“For us, we learnt a lesson and there’s no point winning the fight or trying to win the fight if you’re not going to win the game of footy,” Nicholls said.
“I think that’s the lesson that hopefully we’ve taken out of the weekend. There’s no point getting all fired up and trying to put big hits on and start fights or stick up for mates and run in and whatnot if you’re not going to win the game of footy.
“Unfortunately for us, the Roosters were winning the game of footy when those kind of things started.”
Veteran Kenny Bromwich has been named on the bench to replace Molo in the 17.
The Dolphins have played tough ever since bouncing back from a 0-4 start to the season, then losing their entire starting pack.
Already without Tom Flegler (shoulder nerve) for the year, they proceeded to lose Max Plath (knee), Daniel Saifiti (shoulder) and captain Tom Gilbert (shoulder) for the season, but still managed to stand up in the pack in the heat of battle and force their way into the top eight.
Both teams are without men, and Nicholls said the Dolphins would take the same approach that has worked all year.
“I wouldn’t say we go into a game thinking we’re going to be easy to beat because one, two or three players are out,” he said.
“I’ve played footy a long time and it doesn’t really matter who’s on what team. If one team turns up and wants it more, they generally win.”
The Dolphins beat the Broncos 40-6 in a late-season 2024 derby that knocked them out of the finals race.
“It feels a bit like last year,” Nicholls said.
“Last year definitely the loser was out. It’s just the way the season’s shaped up again. We play the Broncos. I’m sure it’ll be sold out, and both teams are desperate for the win.”
AAP
