The Sydney Roosters face off with the Rabbitohs, while the Dolphins make it three wins from as many matches with a 36-20 defeat of the Knights in Newcastle.
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Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
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Play-by-play
Dolphins stay unbeaten
The Dolphins have set the scene for a heavyweight first clash with Brisbane after continuing their perfect start to life in the NRL.
Wayne Bennett’s troops made it three-from-three to start their maiden season, as they came out on top of a see-sawing clash in Newcastle.
The Knights were gutsy, despite having nine players out and three debutants on the bench, while prop Daniel Saifiti sustained a shoulder injury to add to their woes.
Halfback Jackson Hastings also ended the match off the field for a concussion check, after earlier combining nicely with Lachlan Miller and Tyson Gamble.
The Knights twice fought back valiantly, providing the try of the night to go ahead 16-14 early in the second half when Bradman Best and Gamble combined from a 20-metre tap and Miller went 70 metres to score untouched.
But ultimately their lack of experience showed, as the hosts faded with Hastings off the field after a late hit from Felise Kaufusi and Kalyn Ponga out indefinitely through concussion.
It means next Friday’s historic encounter between the Dolphins and Brisbane will be close to a top-of-the-ladder battle, with the Broncos also entering this weekend unbeaten.
Former Bronco Tesi Niu bagged three tries as the Dolphins troubled the Knights down the left edge while containing the dangerous Dom Young nicely.
Niu’s former Brisbane teammate Jamayne Isaako scored the match-sealing try, after another ex-Bronco, Brenko Lee, put him into space with the Dolphins down to 12 players after Kaufusi was sin-binned for his late shot.
Tom Gilbert was also impressive, running 153 metres and making 38 tackles as the workhorse of the Dolphins’ middle.
The Dolphins dominated the early stages, with two of Niu’s tries in the first half the result of slick passes from his centre Euan Aitken.
Kodi Nikorima also claimed a four-pointer before the break when he went over from dummy half.
But the Knights were able to keep the margin to four points through tries to Gamble and Miller.
Both came from nice lead-up work, with Miller’s particularly impressive when he laid on a short ball for Lachlan Fitzgibbon and wrapped around the outside in support to score.
Miller’s 70-metre burst for his second was equally delightful after the break, but from there it fell apart for the Knights.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow swooped on a loose ball after a Connelly Lemuelu bust, Niu claimed his third on the left wing and Isaako bagged a late double on the right as the Dolphins ran away with the match.
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