DOWN at halftime, Kristian Woolf’s finals- bound Dolphins grabbed the lead at Gold Coast and then hung in for dear life.
The Redcliffe-based side hit the front for the first time when Ray Stone crossed four minutes into the second half at CBUS Super Stadium and never surrendered it on the way to a 24-20 win.
Hamison Tabuai-Fidow claimed his second three minutes later and the visitors had a third disallowed.
However, with 11 minutes left Arama Hau claimed a try from a kick by it was chalked off by Chris Butler in the bunk, maintaining the 24-12 lead for the Dolphins.
Jayden Campbell eventually to the second try of his 100th appearance, from an intercept, with nine to go.
In the first half, Gold Coast raced to a 14-0 lead – but a sin bin dismissal for fullback Keano Kini proved costly.
Referee Wyatt Raymond opted to use the harshest feasible penalty when Kini came in with a second effort on a tackle and arguably the decision gave the finals bound Dolphins their chance to get back into the contest.
Campbell opened the scoring after sixth minute. AJ Brimson followed up five minutes later and Campbell kicked his third goal in the 16th for that 14-point lead.
But Kini got his marching orders in the 22nd minute and the comeback began soon after. There was another penalty and a set restart and Kini’s opposite number Tabuia-Fidow flashed over.
The Jack Bostock seemed to knock on in contesting a bomb but it was play-on before Herbie Farnworth glided between Titans defenders for the Phins’ second.
With both tries converted by Jamayne Isaako, it was just two points the difference at the break.
Late in the game, Titan Moeaki Fotuaiki was sent to the sin bin for slapping an opponent on the back of the head.
DOLPHINS 24 (Tabuai-Fidow 2 Farnworth Stone tries Isaako 4 goals) beat GOLD COAST 20 (Campbell 2 Brimson tries Campbell 4 goals) at CBUS Super Stadium. Crowd: 17,053
Teams:
GC: Keano Kini; Siale Faeamani, AJ Brimson, Beau Fermor, Philip Sami; Jayden Campbell, Lachlan Ilias; Moeaki Fotuaiki, Luke Sommerton, Tino Fa’asuamuleaui (c), Kurtis Morrin, Josh Patston, Chris Randall. Res: Klese Haas, Cooper Bai, Bodhi Sharpley, Sam Verrills, Sunny Kama, Arama Hau.
DOLPHINS: Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow; Jamayne Isaako, Jack Bostock, Josh Bostock, Herbie Farnworth, Tevita Naufahu; Jake Averillo, Isaiaya Katoa; Tom Flegler, Jeremy Marshall-King, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath, Brian Pouniu, Morgan Knowles. Res: Kurt Donaghue, Ray Stone, Francis Molo, Felise Kaufusi, Brad Schneider, Connelly Lemuelu.
Referee: Wyatt Raymond.
