Isaako, Milford star as Dolphins beat Dragons

Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has celebrated his one centesimal NRL recreation in fashion with an imposing show in a 26-12 win over St George Illawarra.

Isaako prolonged his lead because the NRL’s high points-scorer this season with two tries and 5 targets at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium on Thursday evening.

5-eighth Anthony Milford had his finest recreation in a Dolphins jersey to arrange a attempt to rating one himself towards a lacklustre Dragons outfit who bumbled and fumbled their technique to defeat with out inspirational skipper Ben Hunt.

Each side would have given their respective coaches coronary heart palpitations with some substandard decision-making and ball-handling however the Dolphins’ backbone was superior with Milford, fullback Kodi Nikorima and hooker Jeremy Marshall-King making key contributions.

“I am pleased with it,” Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett mentioned of the victory.

“You do not have to be fairly to win. You have simply acquired to get it finished.”

Milford kicked to corners and was simply one of the best playmaker on the sphere, showcasing the category that when led to him representing Queensland.

It isn’t usually {that a} winger is essentially the most precious participant frequently for an NRL facet however Isaako is proving to be simply that for the Dolphins.

Coach Wayne Bennett mentioned earlier than the sport the 26-year-old was “reborn” after a number of lacklustre years with Brisbane. He now has 138 factors for the season.

“He got here to the Broncos (initially of 2016) due to me and was somebody everybody needed on the time as a result of he was a schoolboy star,” Bennett mentioned.

“We now have a great relationship however he wasn’t going to let the boys rain on his personal parade tonight. He took the sport by the scruff of the neck.”

The win solidified the Dolphins’ place within the high eight and stored the Dragons in final place as they await the anticipated signing of Jason Ryles as head coach in 2024.

Interim Dragons coach Ryan Carr had a last-minute win over the Sydney Roosters final week however there was to be no miracle on this event.

“It was a irritating recreation as a complete for us. We made it means too laborious on ourselves,” Carr mentioned.

The Dolphins arrange the win with three tries within the area of six minutes within the opening stanza. Milford kicked excessive for Isaako who dazzled within the air and along with his ft. Marshall-King put Mark Nicholls via threadbare objective line defence with guile and Milford showcased a basic present and go.

Dragons skipper Jack de Belin was sin-binned for a cannonball deal with and placed on report.

“I do not suppose I went in too laborious or too low with unhealthy intent. I used to be fairly shocked in all honesty to be sin-binned,” de Belin mentioned.

The guests did some silly issues, with fullback Tyrell Sloan penalised for giving lip to the referee when the Dolphins had been on their very own tryline.

Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle tried his coronary heart out however lacked help in a show that showcased why his facet are propping up the ladder.

Australian Related Press