Tevita Pangai Junior has delivered a brilliant front rower performance to give the Dolphins and his mentor Wayne Bennett a vital 36-28 win over South Sydney.
The win came despite a potentially season-ending injury to second-row forward Euan Aitken, and a penalty try awarded to Souths despite Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray having a clear opportunity to ground the ball but dropping it.
All the talk before the match at Dolphin Stadium on Thursday night was about how the Rabbitohs had won five games in a row since Bennett had signed to return to Redfern in 2025.
The master coach had vowed pre-match that his focus was solely on the Dolphins and Pangai Jnr, and his teammates, backed Bennett up to the hilt.
Both sides scored six tries but winger Jamayne Isaako landed six goals from as many attempts for the hosts to keep them in sixth position in forward Kenny Bromwich's 250th NRL match.
The Bunker proved to be one of the main talking points from Thursday night, with Souths's first try being awarded to them by the Bunker.
After toeing a kick over Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller, Gray was held by his counterpart without the ball but was able to wrestle free and have a clear chance to score.
Gray dropped the ball, but the Bunker ruled the infringement by Fuller was severe enough to award a penalty try.
Queensland Origin player Billy Moore said the fact Gray had regained his balance and had a clear opportunity to score meant Fuller should have been sent to the sin-bin, rather than South Sydney being awarded a penalty try.
ABC Sport commentator Quentin Hull said a similar decision next Wednesday in the State of Origin decider would be a bad look for the game.
"If that happens to a guy in blue at the cauldron at the back end of the decider on Wednesday, the refs will need security guards by the dozen to get out of the joint," he said.
Despite being on the wrong end of that decision, the Dolphins were sold against the Rabbitohs to snap a three-game losing streak.
Halves Kodi Nikorima and Isaiaya Katoa, along with lightning quick fullback Trai Fuller, shone but it was Pangai in his third match back in the NRL after a stint in boxing who provided the impetus.
Pangai had a near-perfect opening stint that showcased intent, power and skill.
His 97 metres from 10 carries in the opening 26 minutes — which included two offloads, three tackle busts and a try — set the tone for the home side.
The Dolphins led 24-10 early in the second half but the visitors narrowed the margin to six before a Pangai offload ignited a try for Sean O'Sullivan.
Pangai snaffled a bomb in his own in-goal with instinct and class early in the match and in the next set winger Jack Bostock finished a sweeping movement after a superb cutout pass by Fuller.
Fuller then interfered with Souths fullback Jye Gray when attempting to score and The Bunker ruled a penalty try to level it up.
Pangai's brute strength then pulverised three defenders to score from close range.
Rabbitohs talisman Cody Walker sent winger Jacob Gagai over with a scintillating pass in the corner.
Gray saved a try with a gutsy tackle on Bostock before Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth stepped and powered his way over for an 18-10 half-time lead.
Katoa put a sublime kick through for Nikorima to score after the break. Gray set up Gagai for his second of the night before winger Alex Johnston went over and it was game on.
Pangai's crucial offload then kicked the home side ahead before Fuller streaked away to seal the deal, despite Johnston scoring his second and Gagai notching a hat-trick late.
Look back at all the news and NRL action from our live blog below.
A great win for the Dolphins has begun round 19 of the NRL.
Souths will rue too many errors and missed conversions.
The Dolphins now can look towards making a big run to the finals.
We will be back tomorrow for more footy action.
I hope you join me then.
Goodnight.
"I had no choice but to play rugby league growing up. But I honestly didn't think I was going to play professional rugby league this time last year, I'm just trying to take in every game as it is and enjoying it," Max Plath told Zane Bojack.
Kenny Bromwich has joined ABC Sport following the Dolphins 36-28 win over Souths.
"It's been a pretty long journey, but at the same time it's been pretty quick. I really felt the love through the week," Kenny Bromwich told Zane Bojack.
Kenny Bromwich has now played 250 NRL matches.
The New Zealand International won two premierships with the Melbourne Storm, before heading north to the Redcliffe Peninsula.
He celebrates the milestone with a win.
That was closer than the score suggests - goal kicking was the difference. Thanks Mick, see ya next time.
- Mike
The Dolphins have snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory in Redcliffe over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Both sides scored six tries, but Jamayne Isaako kicked six from six, while Cody Walker and Taane Milne combined for just two of six conversions.
Dolphins forward Tevita Pangai Junior punished the Souths defensive line, a potential sign of things to come in the back-end of the season.
Jacob Gagai scores and Souths are coming home with a wet sail.
The Dolphins are out on their feet, but there is less than 60 seconds to play.
And Souths miss their fourth conversion of the night.
The Dolphins certainly will win now.
Johnston has a double as the Bunnies threaten the Dolphins' line for consecutive sets.
It was a simple play through the hands, and the final pass from Jack Wighton was classy.
Souths need two converted tries in five minutes.
The Dolphins are turning it on now.
One tackle off the kick-off and Jack Bostock is through.
Bostock passes inside to his fullback, Trai Fuller will not be caught.
That's it. The Dolphins will win.
The Dolphins have scored an outstanding team try and the Dolphins may be home.
It started with a mid-field offload from Tevita Pangai Junior.
The Dolphins go to the right edge, make a linebreak, a couple of passes back inside and Sean O'Sullivan finishes off the brilliant passage.
Alex Johnston now has 192 tries in the NRL, after bursting through two tackles to score.
A penalty for a strip gave Souths great field position, and they converted with a try.
Unfortunately, Souths have not got their kicking boots this evening, They are one out of four.
Those three conversions are the difference in the score.
Souths have scored off a scrum.
A dropped ball at the back for the Dolphins gave Souths a full set at the home side's try-line.
They only needed one play as off the scrum the fullback Jye Gray takes the ball deep to the line, draws in defenders, and passes to Jacob Gagai who scores in the corner.
Souths centre Taane Milne has bomed a certain try.
Milne was through and had support both left and right.
He decided to attempt to run over the top of the Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller who produces a textbook legs tackle.
Milne is then penalised for a double-movement.
Jai Arrow, who was one of the Souths players running in support, has given Milne a spray.
"Butchers" is the word Billy Moore has used to describe that passage.
Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa has produced the perfect grubber kick for his five-eighth Kodi Nikorima who scores with no defender within Coo-ee of him.
The home team have had the better of the opening 10 minutes of this half, and it has now been punctuated with a try.
The Dolphins now enjoy a 14-point lead.
A massive 40 minutes coming up for both sides.
The Dolphins are looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Souths are trying to extend their winning streak to six matches.
Quentin saying exactly what I was thinking Michael. That wasn’t a penalty try.
- KB
The Dolphins say they believe Euan Aitken has ruptured his right pec.
That is a serious injury that could rule him out for the season.
If rumours are to be believed, Aitken will leave Redcliffe for Souths at the end of the season.
What are your thoughts on Quentin Hull's take on the Souths penalty try?
"If that happens to a guy in blue at the cauldron at the back end of the decider on Wednesday, the refs will need security guards by the dozen to get out of the joint."
This has been a terrific first half with plenty to talk about.
The Dolphins have had the better of the running, but when Souths get a chance they have taken full advantage.
Dolphins prop Tevita Pangai Junior has been outstanding and threatens to blow the game open for the home side.
Dolphins second-row forward Euan Aitken is out and will not return tonight.
He could be out for the season. He has a serious right pec injury after reeling out of a tackle.
Souths second-row forward Jai Arrow, who is going for surgery at the end of this match and will not return for the rest of the year, appears to have an issue with his hip.
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