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Dolphins continue to grow with big win over Cowboys

Sam Kosack  •  July 18th, 2025 12:10 am
Dolphins continue to grow with big win over Cowboys
The Dolphins have fired a warning shot to the rest of the NRL with a big 43-24 win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
In the hunt for their first finals appearance, The Dolphins raced out to a commanding 24-6 halftime lead before a 15 minute period saw the Cowboys claw their way back, but all too little too late.
Doubles to fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and five-eighth Jake Averillo, along with four-pointers to Harrison Graham, Jamayne Isaako, and Oryn Keeley, helped The Dolphins maintain the second-best attack in the NRL, promising they’ll be a threat should they make finals.
Along with his two tries, Averillo ran for 197 metres with a line break and try assist in a dominant performance at five-eighth along with halfback Isaiya Katoa, who notched four line break assists, a field goal, and a try assist.
Former NRL player Adrian Vowles warned The Dolphins will only continue to improve in their quest for finals in their third season since joining NRL.
“100% they get in (the finals) because the hardest part of a season is making the finals,” Vowles said during SEN commentary.
“Once you’re in the finals, it’s a whole new ball game. Anything can happen and if they get there, look out to the other teams because they’ll cause some mischief.
“They’re all growing as a team, that’s what I’ve seen from the Dolphins.”
For the Cowboys, the loss makes a finals appearance that much more difficult, now a minimum of five points off eighth at the end of the round.
It heaps pressure onto coach Todd Payten and a number of star players after their sixth loss from their last seven games.
Penrith premiership hero Scott Sattler believes Cowboys’ boom rookie Jaxon Purdue may be more suited to fullback.
Purdue has been a standout in a disappointing Cowboys’ campaign thus far, becoming a mainstay in their top side after debuting in 2024.
The 18-year-old started the season in the centres before Todd Payten shifted him into his more natural position of five-eighth.
A runaway moment of brilliance from Purdue set up Scott Drinkwater to score in the 61st minute, and it made Sattler think there may be a better position for the 18-year-old.
“Jaxon Purdue grew up playing in the halves, I think he’s a fullback,” Sattler said during SEN’s commentary of the Dolphins win over the Cowboys.
“I think it was really smart of Todd Payten to play him in the centers, and Tim Sheens did that to Benji Marshall in his first full season of '04.
“He played him in the centres as opposed to playing at five-eighth, just to get him used to playing NRL and not be right in the thick of everything and having all that defense being aimed at you.
“I think Purdue's probably in the same predicament, but unfortunately they've got Scott Drinkwater there at 1.”
Playing five-eighth, Purdue ran for 127 metres, with a line break, try assist and three tackle breaks to boot.
The Cowboys next play the Dragons, while the Dolphins have the challenging trip to New Zealand to play the Warriors.
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