The Dolphins have moved to eighth on the NRL ladder and all but ended bumbling Brisbane's finals hopes with centre Herbie Farnworth starring in a 40-6 win over his former club.
The loss by St George Illawarra to Parramatta on the cusp of kick-off opened the door for one of the 'Battle of Brisbane' combatants to grab eighth.
The Dolphins bashed that door down to take a 24-6 lead into halftime and went on with it in the second half at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday in front of 50,049 fans.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett made brave changes, inserting Trai Fuller at fullback and switching Jake Averillo from centre to five-eighth.
The mastercoach pulled a master stroke with both outstanding.Â
Farnworth, who scored two tries, was unstoppable on his way to winning the 'Battle Medal' for man of the match. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a double and shone in his switch to centre.
The Dolphins moved to 28 points and will play finals if they beat Newcastle away on Sunday week.Â
âWeâll take confidence out of it. Sport is about confidence," Bennett said of the win.
âWe didnât play a perfect match but we played really hard and put a lot of effort into it.
âWe will know where we stand next week. Itâs a good position to be in.âÂ
The Broncos (26 points), are realistically done for the season and must flog Melbourne and hope for a suite of other results to go their way.
"That is not part of who we are as a club or as a team," Broncos coach Kevin Walters said of their dire display
"The longer the game went, the worse we got."
Brisbane were way off the pace and the Dolphins pack monstered them, while the backs were carved up.
Dolphins prop Tevita Pangai Jnr, who was superb, had a mini-rumble with former teammate Payne Haas early in an indication feeling was running hot.
Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako scored the opener in the corner after a sweeping movement and landed the conversion. It set the scene for what was to follow
Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi was sin-binned in the 17th minute for a late and high shot on Broncos captain Adam Reynolds who went off for an HIA, which he later passed.
Reynolds and Kaufusi had words as they left the field.
With a man down, a magnificent set play where half Sean O'Sullivan found Tabuai-Fidow sweeping around off his right shoulder to send Averillo in and give the Dolphins a 12-0 lead.
Brisbane hit back with lock Pat Carrigan crashing over from close range.Â
Then it was 'Hammer time' with Tabuai-Fidow swooping on a loose ball and racing 90m to score under the sticks.
It was the Broncos' turn to go down to 12 men when prop Xavier Willison clocked Dolphins forward Ray Stone high.
Averillo stormed in for his second off a Farnworth break and the Dolphins led by 18 points at the break.
The Dolphins owned the second half with Farnworth scoring tries, setting them up and wreaking absolute havoc.
The Broncos lost centre Kotoni Staggs (quad) for the match on the cusp of halftime.
