Wayne Bennett praises Dolphins after making a winning start to NRL with a 28-18 win over Sydney Roosters
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has called the club’s win over the Sydney Roosters in their first NRL game “terribly significant”.
Core items:
- The Dolphins defeated the Sydney Roosters 28-18
- Bennett says the win will ease the pressure on the dolphins
- He had also coached the Broncos to victory in their first Premiership match
The Dolphins – who started their debut as underdogs – caused a big upset with their 28-18 win at Lang Park in Brisbane on Sunday.
They scored five tries to three and delighted a home crowd of more than 32,000 with their historic victory as the 17th club in the NRL.
Bennett said the importance of the dolphins’ triumph could not be underestimated.
“It’s terribly important,” he said at a media conference after the game.
“One of the most difficult things is getting that first win. It settles everything.
“A defeat here today would have put us under a lot more pressure.
“It was important and the way we played was important.”
The Dolphins had targeted Bennett as their founding NRL coach when they received the league’s 17th license in 2021.
The seven-time Premiership manager had experience building a club from the ground up, having been the Brisbane Broncos’ first manager in 1988.
The Broncos won their first game at Lang Park in 1988, 44-10 against defending champion Manly, and Bennett didn’t lose the comparison to the Dolphins’ historic win.
“Of course it’s comparable,” Bennett said.
“The Broncos were game one. The Dolphins are game one. We played against Manly that day and nobody gave us a chance.
“Nobody gave us a big chance here today.”
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made history as the Dolphins’ first try scorer while teammate Jamayne Isaako crossed for the double.
Mark Nicholls and Connelly Lemuelu also scored tries for the NRL freshmen, while Isaako scored four conversions.
The Dolphins play Canberra in Round Two at Redcliffe.
ABC/AAP
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-05/nrl-wayne-bennett-dolphins-sydney-roosters/102056436 Wayne Bennett praises Dolphins after making a winning start to NRL with a 28-18 win over Sydney Roosters
