In a high-scoring shootout, the Raiders have fallen to the Dolphins 62-24 in the last game of the regular season before they kick off their finals campaign.
Having already locked up the 2025 minor premiership, the Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders had a new-look squad this Sunday as they came up against a Dolphins outfit close to full-strength.
The Dolphins opened the scoring up in Redcliffe as a cutout ball from Kodi Nikorima flew across the centres and found Tevita Naufahu on the left wing who finished in the corner. Jamayne Isaako converted to give the Phins a 6-0 lead.
Some grinding defence from the Raiders’ young guns kept the Dolphins at bay across the next 15 minutes and a few shots at the line almost saw the green machine level the scores.
But 25 minutes into the half the Dolphins struck again, as a breakaway run from centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow found fullback Trai Fuller with an offload who ran down the left side and and put second-rower Oryn Keely over to score under the posts. The conversion from Isaako extended the Dolphins’ lead to 12-0.
A third try for the Dolphins came six minutes later after Tabuai-Fidow defused a high ball and got it out wide to halfback Isaya Katoa who swung it across the backline to find centre Jake Averillo who crashed over in the corner. Isaako nailed the kick for an 18-0 lead.
Claiming another two tries before the half, Tabuai-Fidow capitalised on a Raiders’ error after a loose high ball found its way into the centre’s lap right on the line. Six minutes later an intercept from Isaako caught the Raiders’ on the backfoot and put the Hammer over for his second try. Isaako kicked both for a 30-0 lead.
Barging into the second half, the Raiders were first to score after a horror pass from the Dolphins hit the deck and rolled between the legs of Naufahu and was picked up by Raiders’ winger Michael Asomua who scored on debut. Five-eighth Adam Cook nailed the conversion to put the Raiders on the scoreboard 30-6.
The Dolphins were quick to fire back however, after a short ball from hooker Jeremy Marshall-King caught lock Ray Stone on the run who crashed over to score six minutes into the half. Isaako made it 36-6.
Five minutes later, Tabuai-Fidow picked up his third try after finding a gap on the left edge and zipping through the Raiders line. Isaako kicked the conversion to make it 42-6.
Shortly after, Mark Nicholls – fresh off the bench – was gifted an inside ball from Nikorima and crashed over to score in his last game in the NRL. Nicholls was allowed to convert in his last match to make it 48-6.
The Raiders scored next after some much needed possession, with halfback Ethan Sanders putting second-rower Noah Martin over through a gap in the Dolphins defence. An Adam Cook conversion brought the scoreline back to 48-12.
The Dolphins scored next through a try from Naufahu after Nikorima tipped it on to the left winger. Isaako missed his first kick of the day and the scoreboard stayed at 52-12.
On debut, second rower Joe Roddy scored a try off the bench as he cut through the Dolphins line, breaking a few tackles in the process. The young gun was all smiles in what was his first try in the NRL.. Adam Cook had the successful conversion, bringing the scores to 52-18.
With a taste for it now, Roddy secured a double just two minutes later after powering over the line off a flat ball from Raiders’ hooker Danny Levi. Cook nailed the kick, and the Raiders were back to 52-24.
Going into the final five minutes and with a total points tally at seventy points now, the Dolphins notched another as a high-flying cutout ball soared across the right edge and found Isaako who dove for the corner. Isaako missed another conversion and the scoreline read 56-24.
The game finished with Trai Fuller putting Averillo over in the corner as the The kick from Isaako locked the final scoreline in at 62-24.
The Raiders will return home to Canberra now to prepare for week one of the finals, while the Dolphins season comes to an end.
