Dolphins’ Magic Round team list

The Dolphins will be looking for a better start when they take on the Sharks during Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick off).

It follows poor starts two weeks in a row, one they recovered from to win against the Titans in round 8 (28-26) and the second resulted in a 31-30 loss to the Raiders in round 9 (31-30) last Saturday.

Canberra scored three times in the first 18 minutes including a try from Jack Wighton who earlier in the week knocked back an offer to sign with the Dolphins in 2024.

Euan Aitken scored the first points for the Dolphins in the 25^th minute before Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossed in the 30^th minute.

There were also tries to Connelly Lemuelu (57^th and 61^st minutes) and captain Jesse Bromwich (71^st minute). Goal kicker Jamayne Isaako kicked five from five attempts.

The Raiders won the game in the 83^rd minute with a field goal from Jamal Fogarty.

The NRL has since conceded officials missed calling a knock-on by Canberra in the lead-up to the successful field goal.

The NRL's head of football Graham Annesley said referee Peter Gough was obscured in his view of the knock on, but the sideline officials should have pulled the play up.

Captain Bromwich said starting poorly for the second week in a row was not good enough.

“Starting like that, you’re never going to be in the game,” he said at the post-game press conference.

“We just seemed to lack energy and desire, I guess. We’ve just got to, as a group, not look at any excuses but probably look within yourself.”

Bromwich said it would be something they would address this week ahead of Magic Round.

Round 10 team

Ray Stone has been charged with a grade one dangerous throw in the 31-30 loss to the Raiders but has escaped suspension with an early guilty plea.

He will however miss the Magic Round game due to concussion protocols.

The Dolphins will have two big names returning from injury against the Sharks - Anthony Milford and Tesi Niu have been named in the squad.

Niu has not played since injuring his knee against the Broncos in round four, a night when he showed bravery by playing with the injury for 70 minutes.

Niu has been named on the wing in place of Robert Jennings.

Brenko Lee left the field in the second half of Saturday’s golden-point loss to the Raiders with hamstring tightness, but is still on track to play against the Sharks.

He has been named at centre, with cousin Edrick Lee and Valynce Te Whare named on the extended bench as cover.

Niu and Connelly Lemuelu have also played centre in the NRL, so coach Wayne Bennett has options if Brenko Lee does not recover in time.

Kurt Donoghue is also named on the extended bench with Poasa Faamausili and JJ Collins.