Dolphins SOS answered in extra time win over Warriors

A Sean O'Sullivan two-point field goal clinched the Dolphins their first win in four weeks in dramatic fashion, with a 34-32 result against a gutsy Warriors. 

O'Sullivan, who in recent times had been playing with the Dolphins feeder club Redcliffe in the halves, came off the bench halfway through the first period of extra time and more than made an impact at Suncorp Stadium. 

The match served almost as a sudden-death game for both teams, with their finals hopes on the line and the sides played a tough game, with the Warriors second-half surge falling just short. 

The Dolphins started the better of the two with two early tries, with Felise Kaufusi an unlikely first try scorer after he chased through on a kick into their Warriors in-goal. That was followed soon after by a length of the field effort from centre Herbie Farnworth.

The Warriors hit back with a strong effort from Edward Kosi to break up the scoring of the home side, but that was their only points for the half. The Dolphins instead scored one more try via Kodi Nikorima after they had pushed further in front thanks to a penalty goal in front after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was deemed to have hit Ray Stone high. 

The Dolphins headed into the break leading 20-6, but would not have been feeling too comfortable, knowing how they have struggled with their second half performances. 

Despite starting the second half with Dylan Walker still in the sin bin after he was sent for making his contact on Mark Nicholls late in the first half, the Warriors were the first to score, with Kurt Capewell touching down on a Te Maire Martin (who came into the side on Saturday for the injured Shaun Johnson) kick. 

Farnworth then went in for his double and the Dolphins had more of a comfortable lead, before the Warriors lifted again, scoring the next three tries to give Dolphins fans a sinking feeling that their hopes of playing finals in their second season were slipping away.

The visitors had also nearly had another just beforehand when Ali Leiataua went over out wide, only to fumble the ball over the line. To make matters worse, his teammate accidentally collected his head and he had to leave the field for a HIA. 

In a tense match, once again, the Dolphins thought they had the game won when Jake Averillo finally halted the run of points against them after a break from Kaufusi set him up for a try to put them out 32-26.

But the Warriors weren't done. Mitch Barnett was awarded a penalty try with just over three minutes remaining in the match after it was ruled that he would have successfully gotten to the ball first if he'd not been impeded by Kodi Nikorima holding him back. Chanel Harris-Tavita slotted the conversion to draw scores level 32-32. 

Jamayne Isaako missed his first attempt at a field goal from 39 metres out, and Harris-Tavita's attempt in the next set was collected on the full in the in-goal, giving the Dolphins a seven tackle set, but neither side were able to score the winning points in regulation time.

Harris-Tavita missed the first attempt in extra time, but no such trouble for O'Sullivan, who nailed a two-point field goal for the win which put the Dolphins back into the top eight. 

Next week, the Dolphins will head to Salter Oval in Bundaberg to take on the Bulldogs on Saturday. The Warriors will be at 4 Pines Park on Friday night to take on the Sea Eagles.