After enjoying a rosy opening month of their NRL existence, the Dolphins have been exposed to the ruthlessness of the world’s premier rugby league competition.
Wayne Bennett’s men copped their first drubbing on Saturday night, suffering a 38-12 thrashing at the hands of the lowly Dragons in Wollongong.
And adding to the pain of the Redcliffe-based club was an injury sustained by Anthony Milford, who was scrubbed from the match in the 18th minute due to a hamstring problem.
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Bennett said in his post-match press conference that Milford would likely be sidelined for “three or four weeks”.
The former Queensland State of Origin playmaker had been called up to replace chief halfback Sean O’Sullivan, who’s expected to miss 12-16 weeks after sustaining a pectoral injury last week.
“It leaves me looking to the skies saying a few prayers,” Bennett said as he lamented the blows to Milford and O’Sullivan.
Milford pulled up lame while running the footy out of Dolphins territory.
“I haven’t tried to measure his disappointment,” said Bennett, who coached Milford at the Broncos.
“He will have to deal with it.”
Bennett showed a glimpse of his trademark dry humour when asked if Kodi Nikorima would replace Milford next week.
“Unless you can find another one for me,” the master coach said.
The Dolphins won the first three games of their inaugural NRL campaign, beating the Roosters 28-18, the Raiders 20-14 and the Knights 36-20.
They were gutsy in an 18-12 defeat to the Broncos last week, which was decided by a length-of-the-field Kotoni Staggs try in the dying minutes.
The Dolphins were expected to be dealt their first belting earlier than round five.
“You’ve all been waiting for this performance. You all thought it would happen in week one, but it didn’t. Didn’t happen in week two, three or four,” Bennett told reporters.
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“We’ve been up for a month. We’ve kind of played in two semi-grand finals, to be candid with you.
“They’ve handled it great, but today we just didn’t play with that energy we’ve been playing with, and that commitment, from the kick-off.
“The Dragons have been at the other end of the spectrum and I think anyone that has any football knowledge at all knew they were going to go hard today.
“They turned up and were a different team to what they’ve been the last couple of weeks.”
The Dolphins’ loss soured the 300th NRL appearance of former Storm hard nut Jesse Bromwich.
The Dolphins will face the Cowboys in Townsville next Friday night, while the Dragons will meet the Titans on the Gold Coast next Sunday afternoon.
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