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 St George Illawarra
Next Game: The Season has finished
NRL wrap: Dragons crash back to earth as Dolphins dazzle in record win, Sea Eagles outpoint Roosters to stay unbeaten
17 Mar 2024
St George Illawarra's promising start to the season is just a memory after the Dolphins scored the biggest win in their short history while the Sea Eagles were too good for the Roosters at Brookvale.

Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a brilliant hat-trick to orchestrate the club's biggest win in a 38-0 thrashing of St George Illawarra.

It was Tabuai-Fidow's first treble in the NRL and a remarkable comeback after his afternoon to forget last weekend against his former club North Queensland.

The dazzling fullback was complemented by recalled 20-year-old halfback Isaiya Katoa's masterful display of game management at Redcliffe's Dolphins Stadium. 

It was the Dolphins' largest winning margin since joining the competition last season, and the first time they had kept an opponent scoreless.

This was also the Dolphins' bravest victory. They lost five-eighth Kodi Nikorima to concussion in the 18th minute and were without hooker Jeremy Marshall-King to an HIA for the back-end of the first half.

Versatile lock Max Plath and bench utility Kurt Donoghoe stepped up in their absence.

Led by hitman Felise Kaufusi, the hosts' defensive resolve was top shelf.

The Dragons fell apart in the second half, going back to their bumbling ways of 2023.

It was the complete opposite of their thumping win over the Gold Coast the previous week, plus they had prop Frank Molo put on report and sin-binned for a high shot on Jarrod Wallace.

The Dolphins started on fire.

Winger Jack Bostock did well to catch a Ben Hunt bomb near his own line. He broke away and found Tabuai-Fidow who fended off opposite number Tyrell Sloan to race 70m to score.

In the process the Dolphins speed demon broke his longest try drought of six matches.

During the week, winger Jamayne Isaako was fine-tuning his leaps for Kodi Nikorima bombs. It paid off deluxe when the Dolphins No.6 sent a kick skyward. Isaako snaffled it with ease and it was 10-0 after nine minutes.

Nikorima and Marshall-King went off on in the space of four minutes.The latter's injury came after Ben Hunt kicked the ball directly into the head of the Dolphins No.9.

Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan was a threat, and at one stage burst through before putting in a chip and chase. Tabuai-Fidow arrived in time to defuse the situation, showing pure determination.

Marshall-King returned after the break and made his presence felt, sending prop Mark Nicholls crashing over for 16-0.

Katoa set up Jake Averillo for a try on his club debut, before Tabuai-Fidow lit up the stadium when he raced through onto a Bostock chip, toed ahead and scored. It was scintillating stuff.

Marshall-King strolled over, before Tabuai-Fidow scored his third to rub salt into gaping Dragons wounds.

Manly revival continues as Luke Brooks leads the way in win over Roosters

Luke Brooks' Manly resurgence has continued with the rejuvenated five-eighth starring in the Sea Eagles' 21-14 NRL win over the Sydney Roosters.

On a day when Manly dominated ball and territory at Brookvale, Brooks had a hand in two Sea Eagles tries as they went 2-0 to start the season.

Playing with a new-found freedom after leaving the Wests Tigers, Brooks was one of Manly's best after also impressing in their first-up win over South Sydney.

"He (Brooks) was great. He's done a really good job the first few weeks," Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.

"He'll only get better too. He's made a really good start with the connection and cohesion with Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans) and Turbo (Tom Trbojevic).

"They're the guys who lead us around. We don't need Brooksy being that organiser, we just need him to bring his weapons."

Brooks did that on Sunday.

While the Roosters endured an error-riddled game and finished it without five-eighth Luke Keary due to a head knock, Brooks shone.

The 29-year-old Brooks put up the bomb for Manly's first try, allowing Lachlan Croker to score when James Tedesco spilled the kick under heavy pressure from Trbojevic.

He also threw a quick catch-and-pass for a crucial Manly try after half time, taking their lead from 12-10 at the break to 18-10 and handing them control.

For the second game in a row he was able to dummy his way through a defensive line, and on another play scooped up a loose ball and would have scored if his foot hadn't gone into touch.

Put simply, Brooks is playing with the freedom and confidence he was rarely able to find during his long stint at the struggling Tigers.

"I don't know the previous Luke Brooks," Cherry-Evans said.

"So I don't know what to compare him to other than what I've watched. But that situation itself(at the Tigers) was pretty hard to impress in.

"For him to come here, he's worked hard, he's earned his teammate's respect and his performances have been two really great games so far."

Brooks was far from alone in impressing.

While Manly also had errors, they again proved they have attacking strikepower to threaten this season when all of their weapons are fit and healthy.

Just as he did in his team's opening win over South Sydney in Las Vegas, Trbojevic went tryless but looked dangerous with almost every touch at fullback.

Haumole Olakau'atu was destructive on the right, busting six tackles for the match and was at one stage denied close to the line three times in one set.

Tolutau Koula was particularly damaging at left centre for the hosts, making an 80-metre break in the opening minutes and scoring a first-half try following a Keary error.

And while the Roosters threatened to get themselves back in the game late via an 80-metre effort in broken play from Dom Young, errors again cost them and Cherry-Evans kicked Manly clear.

"It was a bit disjointed there from us," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

"It felt like the left hand wasn't speaking to the right hand at different times.

"We couldn't get any rhythm at any point during the game and that was a credit to the opposition."

AAP

Re-live all the action, news and scores below in our live blog.

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The St George-Illawarra Dragons are planning a shock move for Wallabies back Jordan Petaia for the 2025 NRL league season and beyond 
The St George-Illawarra Dragons are planning a shock move for Wallabies back Jordan Petaia for the 2025 NRL league season and beyond click here for full story...

The St George Illawarra Dragons have signed winger Christian Tuipulotu from the Manly Sea Eagles 
The St George Illawarra Dragons have signed winger Christian Tuipulotu from the Manly Sea Eagles click here for full story...

St George-Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan claims halfback Ronald Volkman arrived injured from the Warriors and should not have completed a medical 
St George-Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan claims halfback Ronald Volkman arrived injured from the Warriors and should not have completed a medical click here for full story...

Last Game: The Dragons lost against the Penrith Panthers 26 - 30 at Penrith Stadium, Australia (7619 days ago)  game results here
 St George Illawarra Season 0 Stats (All games)
 Total Games Played 26 
 Away Games 26 
    Away Wins 12 
 Home Games
    Home Wins
 Total Tries: 60 
 Total Goals: 50 
 Total Field Goals:
 Total Points For: 661 
 Total Points Against: 573 
 Leagues the St George Illawarra are in
1999 NRL Country Carnival, 1999 NRL Season, 1999 NRL Finals, 2000 NRL Season, 2001 NRL Pre-Season, 2001 NRL Season, 2001 NRL Finals, 2002 NRL Season, 2002 NRL Finals, 2003 NRL Season,

 Players in 2002
Brent Kite, Craig Stapleton, Gary Mcbride, Jason Hooper, Jason Ryles, Lance Thompson, Lee Hookey, Luke Bailey, Luke Felsch, Mark Gasnier, Mark Riddell, Matt Cooper, Nathan Blacklock, Nathan Tutt, Reece Simmonds, Shane Millard, Shaun Timmins, Trent Barrett, Willie Peters,

 Players in 2001
Amos Roberts, Andrew Bobbin, Andrew Hart, Chris Leikvoll, Colin Ward, Craig Smith, Darren Treacy, Jamie Ainscough, Jamie Fitzgerald, Justin Smith, Kieran Kerr, Paul McGregor, Wade Forrester, Wayne Bartrim,

 Players in 2000
Anthony Mundine, Corey Pearson, Daniel Heckenberg, Lee Murphy, Luke Branighan, Luke Patten, Nathan Brown, Robbie Simpson, Terry Lamey,

 Players in 1999
Brad Mackay, Craig Fitzgibbon, Mark Coyne, Rod Wishart,
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Last Results

Sunday, 11 May, 2003
Penrith 30
St George 26


Sunday, 4 May, 2003
St George 28
Sharks 12


Friday, 25 Apr, 2003
St George 24
Sydney City 20


Saturday, 19 Apr, 2003
St George 24
Canterbury 14


Sunday, 13 Apr, 2003
Eagles 38
St George 12


Saturday, 29 Mar, 2003
Canberra 18
St George 14


Sunday, 23 Mar, 2003
St George 30
Parramatta 28


Saturday, 15 Mar, 2003
Wests Tigers 24
St George 20


Saturday, 21 Sep, 2002
Sharks 40
St George 24


Saturday, 14 Sep, 2002
St George 26
Newcastle 22


2003 NRL LADDER
Round 10
May 17th - 18th
Pos  Team Name  P
 1   Canberra   16 
 2   Brisbane   14 
 3   Warriors   14 
 4   Sydney City   12 
 5   Melbourne   12 
 6   Newcastle   12 
 7   Penrith   12 
 8   Canterbury   10 
 9   St George   10 
 10   Eagles   8 
 11   Cowboys   8 
 12   Sharks   6 
 13   Wests Tigers   6 
 14   Parramatta   4 
 15   South Sydney   2 
click for full table


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