Rabbitohs Go Down to Dolphins in Suncorp Stadium Shootout

The Rabbitohs were on the receiving end of a fast-paced and high-scoring contest at Suncorp Stadium, falling 50-28 to the Dolphins in what became the highest-scoring match of the NRL season so far.

South Sydney struck early in the fourth minute, with Latrell Mitchell slicing through the Dolphins defence and offloading brilliantly to Jack Wighton, who crossed for the opening try. Mitchell converted from out wide to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.

The Dolphins responded soon after when a handling error gave them strong field position, and Jeremy Marshall-King crashed over from close range in the 11th minute to level the scores. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow then marked his 100th NRL game with a 20th-minute try, finishing off a slick attacking sequence from Isaiya Katoa.

Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell were involved in several promising movements, but the Dolphins took control through the middle of the half. Tries to Kodi Nikorima (28th minute), Jake Averillo (36th), and a second to Tabuai-Fidow on the halftime siren saw the home side open up a 30-6 lead at the break.

The Rabbitohs began the second half with attacking intent and were rewarded after a Dolphins error led to repeat sets. Cody Walker created back-to-back tries for Tallis Duncan in the 53rd and 56th minutes, with the back-rower crashing over twice off short passes. Walker, however, soon left the field with a hamstring injury, forcing a reshuffle in the South Sydney spine.

Tabuai-Fidow completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute and added a fourth in the 63rd, pouncing on a loose ball and racing 60 metres to score. By then, the Dolphins had pushed their lead out to 44-16.

Despite the setback, South Sydney showed plenty of fight. Jack Wighton, now filling in at five-eighth, stepped his way through to score his second try in the 66th minute. Three minutes later, Davvy Moale powered over from close range, with Mitchell adding the extras to make it 44-28 with just over ten minutes to play.

Any hopes of a late comeback were dashed when Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe intercepted a pass and ran 90 metres to score in the 73rd minute, bringing the final score to 50-28.

South Sydney will now regroup and look ahead to next week against the Sea Eagles, aiming to turn encouraging attacking moments into a more complete performance across the 80 minutes.