Max Plath, Kurt Donoghoe, and Isaiya Katoa might not be household names, but Broncos’ great Corey Parker has heaped praise on the young guns following The Dolphins biggest ever win.
Off the back of an electric hattrick to superstar fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, The Dolphins defeated the St George-Illawarra Dragons 38-0 in the young club’s biggest ever win since joining the NRL.
Coming off a disappointing 43-18 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys the week before, not much was expected from The Dolphins, but Parker credits the win to the coming of age of some of the team’s young guns.
“There comes a time when you play in the NRL where you feel accepted, and you can feel comfortable,” Parker said on SENQ Mornings.
“I’ve got no doubt that after yesterday’s performance that those two individuals, Donoghoe and also Plath would feel comfortable and think… ‘I belong here… I’m not just a name on the sheet, I can contribute something.’”
“I thought Katoa was exceptional, still just a 20-year-old kid. I thought his kicking game was great.
“(The Dolphins) were upbeat, up tempo, they completed at a high rate. The Dolphins were just wanting every contest more than the dragons… collectively as a group I thought they were great.”
Parker also spoke of the influence that supercoach Wayne Bennett would have had on the side.
“They had the rocket put under them. He dropped his 7… and also his centre,” said Parker.
“He absolutely would’ve read the riot act in regards to what they stood for.”
“Less is more from Wayne. He knows how to get the best out of his players.”
The Dolphins have a bye this weekend before taking on the Gold Coast Titans in Round 4.