Dolphins’ grit needed in Battle for Brisbane

The Dolphins’ got ‘back to basics’ at training this morning as they prepare for the biggest game of their season – the Battle for Brisbane – on Saturday night. Who will play could remain a mystery until at least Friday as injuries again take their toll.

Mark Nicholls will captain the side in the absence of Jesse Bromwich who is out, along with Kodi Nikorima, due to concussion protocols.

There’s also a host of other players in doubt including Tevita Pangai Junior, Max Plath and Ray Stone.

The Dolphins will name a team this afternoon but won’t truly know who is available until Friday’s captain’s run.

They face the Broncos in a do-or-die Battle for Brisbane. Both teams need to win to keep their finals hopes alive.

The game would have been Bromwich’s final home game for the Dolphins, but the much-respected captain will watch on from the sidelines.

“We had a meeting this morning and just said we sort of don’t really know who’s going to be playing and who’s not going to be playing. Obviously, we’re already going to be without Kodi and Jess,” Nicholls says.

“We realise how big this game is for us. It’s do-or-die, (the) same for the Broncos, sold-out crowd. Our season’s on the line but we’re going to have to wait to Friday to see what team we’re going to run out there, which is not idea but it makes the story better if we win.”

Those training today didn’t train 13-on-13, as they usually would, instead focusing on what they need to improve in their positions in smaller groups.

“For us forwards it was more about getting back to basics – wanting to run hard, tackle hard and work hard for each other. That’s the sort of drills we did. Training the way we want to play,” Nicholls says.

“That’s how we want to play on Saturday night. We’ve got to turn up, we’ve got to run hard, tackle hard. It’s a pretty simple game sometimes. If we can do that better than the Broncos, then the result should go our way.”

Desperate for a win

Saturday’s game (5.30pm kick off) follows the Dolphins’ crushing 48-6 loss against Melbourne Storm in round 25. So, what went wrong?

“We’ve had injuries but that happens at every club. Until the weekend, we managed to bounce back from ... tight losses but on the weekend those inconsistences in our game ... a good team like the Storm, they put us to the sword in the end. It was a disappointing result, but we get to go again this week and it gets no bigger than playing the Broncos,” Nicholls says.

Turning things around starts with going back to basics.

“You’ve got to run harder and tackle harder than the Broncos. It’s going to come down to that. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you do out on the field and who you put out there, if you get 17 guys who turn up wanting to run hard and tackle hard generally good things will happen,” Nicholls says.

“I think that’s what Wayne’s good at ... simplifying footy. I think he likes being the underdog as much as anyone. I’m sure, come Friday, he’ll have a speech to get us fired up and ready.”

Nicholls hosed down suggestion Bennett had ‘switched off’ since signing with South Sydney.

“I think that’s external noise,” he says.

“He hates losing as much as anyone. He’s been the same from what I’ve seen. I’m sure he’s excited for this weekend, put it that way.

“I mean he falls asleep in meetings, but he’s done that since I’ve known him. I haven’t noticed any change in Wayne,” he says laughing.

The Dolphins will need to draw on the grit and determination that has earned them so many fans, since they entered the NRL last year, to win this weekend.

Not only do they want to win the turf war against the Broncos, they will want to send departing players out on a high in their last home game for the regular season.

“Like every team, we’ve got some guys leaving at the end of the year and none bigger than Jesse (Bromwich). He’s our inaugural captain, he’s done a lot in the game,” Nicholls says.

“I went down to Melbourne for a couple of years and I couldn’t believe how good he was as a front rower. I was in awe training against him every day and now he’s come up here and I got to watch his last two years.

“I’m sure he’s as disappointed as anyone that he’s not playing this week, given how important it is for our season and who we’re playing. Hopefully he gets a few more games, if we can win this week and next week.”