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Defiant Dolphins flip the script on the Storm in their ‘greatest victory’
Nicholas Quinlan • April 19th, 2025 12:21 pm
The Dolphins have followed up their win against Penrith last week with a come-from-behind victory against the Melbourne Storm.
This is the first time in the Dolphins’ history that they have beaten the Storm as they won 42-22 at Suncorp Stadium.
But it didn’t look like that would be the case at the start of the match.
Despite the Dolphins scoring the first points of the game through a penalty goal by Jamayne Isaako, the Storm quickly built up a sizeable lead.
Tries from Kane Bradley, Xavier Coates and Ryan Papenhuyzen with two successful conversions saw the Storm leading 16-2 halfway through the first half and looked set for a comfortable win.
And with injuries to the Dolphins' forward pack in Max Plath (foot) and Felise Kaufusi (MCL) which forced them out for the rest of the match, it only added to the belief that Melbourne would likely win this match.
But the Dolphins would manage to pile on seven tries in a row to turn the tables on the game.
A rampaging Josh Kerr in his 100th game would score the Dolphins’ first try of the match having been subbed on just two minutes which started the avalanche.
From there, they looked unbeatable as they applied pressure on Melbourne in their attacking half with five different try scorers.
They were also helped by Melbourne being ill-disciplined as they conceded six penalties, four six agains and 16 errors which helped the Dolphins maintain possession.
NRL and Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith was seriously impressed with the performance that the Dolphins inflicted on his side noting the importance of this victory for them.
“This will be and I’m sure we’re going to speak to a few of the Dolphins players’…, but this could possibly be their greatest victory.” Smith said on Channel 9.
Speaking post-game, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf admitted he was somewhat concerned by Melbourne’s fast start but was pleased by his team's effort.
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“I was really proud of our blokes; 16-2 down, all the run going against us, it could have gone against us, but you could tell we were up for the fight,” Woolf noted.
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“I was really proud of our blokes; 16-2 down, all the run going against us, it could have gone against us, but you could tell we were up for the fight,” Woolf noted.
“We know their fast starters and that’s what they have been able to do, just get on top early and not really be too troubled.
“But as I said, I could see that our blokes were up for the challenge even though we were 16-2 down…but the couple of opportunities we had, we looked like we were going to find something.
“So yeah, you’re always worried at 16-2 down against Melbourne aren’t you, but I thought he had enough fight in us that we were able to get ourselves back in the contest.
To top off an already important victory for the Dolphins, this is the third time they have scored 40 or more points in their NRL history.
And for the Storm, it is the third time since 2014 that the Storm have conceded 40 or more points in a match showing how unexpected the result was for the men in purple.
