Four things learned from Dolphins’ derby boboover

They had everything to play for. They had publicly stated that they would play final football this year.

This was not the kind of performance that exuded that belief, and certainly not one from a graduating team.

The Broncos had chances to take the lead in the first half, but their lack of execution from close range proved fatal.

Against a Dolphins formation with 12 men deep in their area, after Felise Kaufusi was sent to the sin bin for high contact, Brisbane immediately gave the ball away through Brendan Piakura.

Coach Kevin Walters’ men then gave away a cheap penalty, after which the Dolphins stormed up the field to score.

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The Broncos struck back through Pat Carrigan, but they squandered another chance when Jordan Riki failed to convert a pass from Billy Walters. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow collected the pass, ran the length of the field and scored.

From there their defence was shredded and they lacked any semblance of resolve in the second half, Brisbane being outpaced by over 600 metres and making just two linebreaks to the Dolphins’ nine.

“As the game went on, we got worse. The confidence went away. We tried to make passes and looked for the miracle,” Walters said.

“We have to learn as a club that this is a big club and you have to play every week and be ready to play every week. There is pressure every week playing for the Broncos, that’s what people and players have to understand.”

Fuller-Hammer substitution: recipe for chaos in the final

Bennett stressed before kick-off that he was taking a risk with a number of changes to the team, moving halfback Isaiya Katoa to the bench, Jake Averillo to five-eighth, Tabuai-Fidow to centre and Trai Fuller to fullback.

It proved to be a masterstroke and could give his team the attacking weapons to pull off a surprise final.

While they are not yet assured of the eighth spot, Fuller’s arrival could be a significant change that gives the Dolphins the strength they need to compete against the top teams.

The late-blooming full-back was always top class when wearing the red shirt, but Tabuai-Fidow’s preference for playing in number 1 saw him remain in the reserves.

But ‘The Hammer’ has shown just how much quality he is as a centre for the Queensland Maroons, and he demonstrated it again on Saturday night, flying across the field, punching a hole from close range and throwing the ball to Averillo, who scored.

Tabuai-Fidow took his chances and finished with two tries, two linebreak assists, a try assist and 90 metres.

Fuller, meanwhile, was a constant threat in the middle, finishing the night with 196 metres and 12 failed tackles, while Averillo’s move to the fifth-eighth position led to two tries, two try assists and three linebreak assists.

Whether these changes will last after Kodi Nikorima’s concussion remains to be seen. But if all the guns are in place, this Dolphins team could spark a surprise.

“It was a risk, but it was worth taking. We had punished ourselves up until then and had won and lost the game many times,” Bennett said.

“I thought maybe a change of position could help us. We’ll have some secret meetings (about who’s playing where), and we won’t invite you (the media) – you’ll have to figure it out for yourselves.”

Where is the final taking place now?

For the Dolphins it’s a simple equation: beat the Newcastle Knights next week and they’ll be in the finals.

And their troops return at just the right time.

Captain Jesse Bromwich and five-eighth Nikorima return after being forced off with concussion, while forward Jeremy Marshall-King made his comeback after a foot injury while on the bench as a substitute against the Broncos.

“We go to Newcastle, next Sunday is the last game of the season, so we know where we are going into the game,” Bennett said.

The Broncos will need to miraculously beat the Melbourne Storm convincingly, while making the Dolphins lose convincingly and the Dragons lose as well, and then hope that both the Knights and Raiders lose on Sunday.

But even then, it’s unlikely, given the severe blow the Dolphins dealt to their differential. They may well be without Kotoni Staggs, who was forced off in the first half with a groin injury.