First Away Trip To Suncorp
Thursday morning and an early flight on the day of the game to Brisbane. It was the first away trip of the season. The first of 9 road trips. The first of 3 games in 4 weeks up in Brisbane.
Usually it will be a flight the day before and head back the day after. This year with so many trips we decided to fly up the day of the game.
Doing the trip with me was Michael and my partner Patricia.
Game Day
A quick flight up to Brisbane, then the train to Roma St Station to get to our apartment. Some lunch meeting up with some friends (Kylie & Rueben) who made the trip up also.
Back up to the room to relax before we had to get ready to put on the Cardinal & Myrtle. It was time to make our way up Roma Street to head to Caxton St. There to meet up with some more friends (Tanya, Erin & Ariel) who live up in Brisbane.
It wasn’t long before we make our way to the ground. Get to our seats. Soaking up the atmosphere. Some fireworks before our boys run out. Not surprising there were a big contingent of Rabbitohs in the crowd.
It was game time.
A Tale Of Two Halves
You would be forgiven if you thought the teams changed jerseys at halftime. It certainly seemed that way. In the first half it was a case of lacking energy and enthusiasm. The second was full of energy.
First half the Dolphins had all the field possession. The second half we had all the field possession.
First Half
The first set saw us get down in an attacking position off the back of a penalty. Much like the previous week. Only for us to give up possession. The Dolphins then were able to put up a bomb at the end of there set in good position.
As so often this season our Achilles heel is defending kicks. Taane Milne with the drop ball. It went backwards, but the Dolphins were first to the ball. A quick play the ball and smart play by ex-Rabbitoh Kodi Nikorima saw a blindside play that created an overlap for the Dolphins to score first.
Very much like last week an early try.
Our energy looked a bit off. The Dolphins were full of energy. Our kicks and chase were giving the Dolphins easy field position, whilst the Dolphins had us pinned in our own half.
Finally a result from one of our kicks. Lachlan Ilias puts it up and our chases put pressure. Knock on Dolphins.
Campbell Hits The Gap
A chance for an attacking set on their line. It didn’t take us long to get through. Ilias with nice work to pass to Latrell who then double pumped with Keaon running the decoy to Campbell Graham hitting the gap straight through for our first try.
For a small period there we looked to be on top. Some poor options really hurt us. One set attacking the line Cook threw a couple of crash balls. One to Host on the 4th tackle. We didn’t put any pressure through a backline move that set.
Then Taane was put through. Off the back of that a quick play the ball with the Dolphins retreating Cody Walker puts the kick through on the 3rd and the Dolphins easily recover the ball.
All Dolphins
That killed off our momentum. For the rest of the half it was all Dolphins. A break to Euan Aitken off a poor Campbell Graham read into poor marker defence by Suluka-Fifita that lead to the Marshall-King try. I don’t know what Daniel was doing as he wasn’t watching the dummy half.
Dolphins created a few more chances. Another Aitken break but good work from Ilias to knock the pass away. Then late in the first half the Hammer looked like he was going to score only to be brought down just short of the line.
Down 14-6 at halftime it was hard to see how we would get out of this. Something special from JD was going to be needed to lift the boys for the second half.
Second Half
It wasn’t a great start to us on the first set. Again not defusing their bomb to give them another attacking set. Fortunately the Dolphins dropped the ball. From then on it was all us.
In the blink of an eye we found ourselves in front off the back of tries to Campbell and Cody. A bit of a contentious one with the Campbell try and a bit of luck with the Cody try, but you take what you can get.
This was a completely different side.
We were now moving up in defence, putting pressure on their kickers. We were getting the ball back in great field position.
The Dolphins found themselves down a player when Kenny Bromwich was rightfully sent to the bin for a shoulder to the head of Taane Milne.
The Tries
Like the previous week we took full advantage of the opposition being a player down. Back to back to back tries. Tries to Tass, Latrell and Johnston off the back of a beautiful ball from Cody.
That would be the final score. A couple of late errors. Again Campbell with a late drop ball when it looked like something was happening. It didn’t matter though. The game was well and truly over. A 36-14 victory with the second half being 30-0.
A Welcome Return
It was hard to go past Jai Arrow as our best. What a welcome return from him. He ran for most metres and really caused them trouble. He certainly showed us why we missed him.
Davvy Moale had what I thought was his best game for us. Finally starting to see big minutes. We are starting to really see what the club sees in him. Davvy is making it hard for JD to drop him when we have all our players come back. He really took the Dolphins pack on and came out on top.
This is the second week in a row that our bench has given us great value.
The Cody We Need
Cody Walker in the second half was the Cody Walker of 2021. Just took control and ended up with 3 try assists. This is the Cody we need to see.
Our captain once again led by example. Didn’t stop working all game. It’s funny how often he goes under the radar because this is what we expect from him now. One area I think he needs to work on is giving away penalties though. I’ve noticed he has given a few away this year.
South Sydney Sounds
It was great to hear the “South Sydney” chant filling the ground throughout the game. There may not have been as many of us as the Dolphins fans, but it definitely sounded that way.
Now on to next week where we play the Panthers. The benchmark of the competition. A team we have really struggled against the last few years. This will show us where we are right now.
Farewell Brisbane
After the game it was a quick walk down the hill to our hotel room. After a game it’s on to the socials to read all about the game. Then off to bed before heading to the airport early to get back home.
A quick trip but an enjoyable one. We get to do it all again up there in 2 weeks when we play the Broncos and again the following week for Magic Round.
First Away Trip To Suncorp.
By Josh Kemp for Bunnies TV.
Extra game day images with thanks to Donna (bunniessstid on Instagram).
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