Katoa, Nikorima steer Dolphins home in thriller against Cowboys

Rookie halfback Isaiya Katoa and veteran five-eighth Kodi Nikorima steered the Dolphins to a 28-26 defeat of the Cowboys in a gripping Queensland derby in Townsville.

Trailing 10-0 early in the match and 22-18 at halftime, the Dolphins powered home in the second half to bounce back from last weekend's 18-14 loss to the Knights before a capacity crowd at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Katoa, 20, and Nikorima, who is 10 years his senior, combined on both sides of the ruck to play a hand in all five of the Brisbane-based team's tries - three of which were scored by right winger Jamayne Isaako, who finished with 20 points.

The Tongan halfback also produced a try-saving tackle on Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt as the Dolphins hung on, despite the absence of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Herbie Farnworth, Tom Flegler, Tom Gilbert and Kenny Bromwich.

The Cowboys started as they finished last weekend - coming back from 24-4 down against the Panthers to score three unanswered tries in a 26-20 loss - to race to a 10-0 lead after just seven minutes.

Winger Kyle Feldt, the greatest tryscorer in North Queensland history, added to his tally with a spectacular finish in the corner after halves Tom Dearden and Jake Clifford combined with fullback Scott Drinkwater.

A 40/20 kick from Drinkwater gave the Cowboys field position and Kangaroos forward Reuben Cotter crashed his way over to score their second try just three minutes later.

Jamayne Isaako hit back for the Dolphins with his first try after halfback Isaiya Katoa linked with five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, who wrongfooted Val Holmes before passing to the Kiwis winger.

Clifford kicked North Queensland's second 40/20 in the opening 15 minutes after rookie Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller misjudged the kick and the ball bounced over the sideline, but the Cowboys failed to capitalise.

Instead, it was the Dolphins who scored next to take a 12-10 lead after Katoa and Nikorima again linked up to put centre Tesi Niu over out wide in the 23rd minute.  

Strike second-rower Jeremiah Nanai put the Cowboys back in front after Fuller fumbled a Clifford bomb and the Test and Origin star swooped up the loose ball to score in the 30th minute.

However, Isaako grabbed his second try in almost identical fashion to his first after quick hands from Katoa, Nikorima and centre Jake Averillo created space for the Dolphins' right winger.

The lead changed again just before halftime after Katoa was unable to clean up a Dearden grubber into the Dolphins in-goal and Cowboys forward Sam McIntyre dived on the loose ball to give the home side a 22-18 lead.

Isaako's third try levelled the scores after prop Josh Kerr hit the line and offloaded to Nikorima, who shifted the ball to Averillo and the former Bulldog ran towards the corner before flicking the ball inside to his right edge partner.

Averillo then put the Dolphins ahead 12 minutes before fulltime after winning the race for a Nikorima grubber into the North Queensland in-goal but a late Nanai try reduced the deficit to 28-26 after Holmes missed the sideline conversion.