‘We know what we need to do’
In a season which has seen the Dolphins beat the Storm and Panthers for the first time and secure record-winning margins two weeks in a row, the NRL side will be looking for another first this weekend – a win in Perth.
Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King says they’ll need to keep the momentum going as they face a fired-up Newcastle Knights.
“I know they’re going to come out hard. They lost on the weekend. Any team that loses, you know they’re going to try to bounce back, come out hard,” Marshall-King says.
“We expect that and we’ve just got to match it … play our game. We know what we need to do. I’m excited to get out there this week.”
The round 16 game follows an extraordinary three-weeks in the club’s short history, starting with their 44-8 win over ladder leaders the Bulldogs, followed by 56-6 over the Dragons and 58-4 over the Cowboys last weekend.
That’s a total of 158 points in three rounds with just 18 points scored against them.
“There’s no better feeling than winning. A lot of people doubted us at the start … I’m just glad we’re getting our wins and giving back to the fans, which is good,” Marshall-King says.
The Dolphins have won seven from 14 games so far this season, after losing in the first four rounds.
Marshall-King, who suffered a serious thigh laceration in round six and returned in round nine only to reopen the wound and sit out until round 14, says the team’s combinations have clicked in recent weeks.
“I think it’s our connection as a group but also coming back to our defence. It’s something that we take pride in. We know if we get that right, our attack will flow off it,” Marshall-King says.
He says keeping opposition teams to low scores has also been pleasing.
Against the odds
The dominant performances have come despite season-ending injuries to Captain Tom Gilbert, Daniel Saifiti, and a serious knee injury to Max Plath.
“Adversity’s been part of this club for a long time … since we started. We’ve had a lot of setbacks and stuff like that. Us boys, we always bond and connect a lot better when things happen like that and enjoy each other’s company,” Marshall-King says.
“It’s just really good to see. We’ve just got to keep going and being consistent in what we do … keep putting our heads down and getting wins.”
The Dolphins will be without Felise Kaufusi for the Knights’ clash, after he took an early guilty plea on a dangerous contact charge during their win over the Cowboys. He will miss two games.
It creates an opportunity for Harrison Graham to come into the team. The full team list will be released at 4pm.
The Dolphins appeared relaxed but focused during training this morning, with beanies the headwear of choice for Kodi Nikorima and Jamayne Isaako. They head to Perth on Thursday.