Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a brilliant hat-trick to orchestrate the club's biggest win in a 38-0 thrashing of St George Illawarra.
It was Tabuai-Fidow's first treble in the NRL and a remarkable comeback after his afternoon to forget last weekend against his former club North Queensland.
The dazzling fullback was complemented by recalled 20-year-old halfback Isaiya Katoa's masterful display of game management at Redcliffe's Dolphins Stadium.
It was the Dolphins' largest winning margin since joining the competition last season, and the first time they had kept an opponent scoreless.
This was also the Dolphins' bravest victory. They lost five-eighth Kodi Nikorima to concussion in the 18th minute and were without hooker Jeremy Marshall-King to an HIA for the back-end of the first half.
Versatile lock Max Plath and bench utility Kurt Donoghoe stepped up in their absence.
Led by hitman Felise Kaufusi, the hosts' defensive resolve was top shelf.
The Dragons fell apart in the second half, going back to their bumbling ways of 2023.
It was the complete opposite of their thumping win over the Gold Coast the previous week, plus they had prop Frank Molo put on report and sin-binned for a high shot on Jarrod Wallace.
The Dolphins started on fire.
Winger Jack Bostock did well to catch a Ben Hunt bomb near his own line. He broke away and found Tabuai-Fidow who fended off opposite number Tyrell Sloan to race 70m to score.
In the process the Dolphins speed demon broke his longest try drought of six matches.
During the week, winger Jamayne Isaako was fine-tuning his leaps for Kodi Nikorima bombs. It paid off deluxe when the Dolphins No.6 sent a kick skyward. Isaako snaffled it with ease and it was 10-0 after nine minutes.
Nikorima and Marshall-King went off on in the space of four minutes.The latter's injury came after Ben Hunt kicked the ball directly into the head of the Dolphins No.9.
Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan was a threat, and at one stage burst through before putting in a chip and chase. Tabuai-Fidow arrived in time to defuse the situation, showing pure determination.
Marshall-King returned after the break and made his presence felt, sending prop Mark Nicholls crashing over for 16-0.
Katoa set up Jake Averillo for a try on his club debut, before Tabuai-Fidow lit up the stadium when he raced through onto a Bostock chip, toed ahead and scored. It was scintillating stuff.
Marshall-King strolled over, before Tabuai-Fidow scored his third to rub salt into gaping Dragons wounds.
Luke Brooks' Manly resurgence has continued with the rejuvenated five-eighth starring in the Sea Eagles' 21-14 NRL win over the Sydney Roosters.
On a day when Manly dominated ball and territory at Brookvale, Brooks had a hand in two Sea Eagles tries as they went 2-0 to start the season.
Playing with a new-found freedom after leaving the Wests Tigers, Brooks was one of Manly's best after also impressing in their first-up win over South Sydney.
"He (Brooks) was great. He's done a really good job the first few weeks," Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.
"He'll only get better too. He's made a really good start with the connection and cohesion with Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans) and Turbo (Tom Trbojevic).
"They're the guys who lead us around. We don't need Brooksy being that organiser, we just need him to bring his weapons."
Brooks did that on Sunday.
While the Roosters endured an error-riddled game and finished it without five-eighth Luke Keary due to a head knock, Brooks shone.
The 29-year-old Brooks put up the bomb for Manly's first try, allowing Lachlan Croker to score when James Tedesco spilled the kick under heavy pressure from Trbojevic.
He also threw a quick catch-and-pass for a crucial Manly try after half time, taking their lead from 12-10 at the break to 18-10 and handing them control.
For the second game in a row he was able to dummy his way through a defensive line, and on another play scooped up a loose ball and would have scored if his foot hadn't gone into touch.
Put simply, Brooks is playing with the freedom and confidence he was rarely able to find during his long stint at the struggling Tigers.
"I don't know the previous Luke Brooks," Cherry-Evans said.
"So I don't know what to compare him to other than what I've watched. But that situation itself(at the Tigers) was pretty hard to impress in.
"For him to come here, he's worked hard, he's earned his teammate's respect and his performances have been two really great games so far."
Brooks was far from alone in impressing.
While Manly also had errors, they again proved they have attacking strikepower to threaten this season when all of their weapons are fit and healthy.
Just as he did in his team's opening win over South Sydney in Las Vegas, Trbojevic went tryless but looked dangerous with almost every touch at fullback.
Haumole Olakau'atu was destructive on the right, busting six tackles for the match and was at one stage denied close to the line three times in one set.
Tolutau Koula was particularly damaging at left centre for the hosts, making an 80-metre break in the opening minutes and scoring a first-half try following a Keary error.
And while the Roosters threatened to get themselves back in the game late via an 80-metre effort in broken play from Dom Young, errors again cost them and Cherry-Evans kicked Manly clear.
"It was a bit disjointed there from us," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
"It felt like the left hand wasn't speaking to the right hand at different times.
"We couldn't get any rhythm at any point during the game and that was a credit to the opposition."
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LoadingThe Dragons try and get a try late and Sloan manages to slip past Averillo and goes for the corner but Tabuai-Fidow caps a great game by getting across and knocking the ball out of his hands at the last second. Kind of sums it up.
A Hunt error on his own ten gives the Dolphins another shot. There's more points out there if they want them and they do because Tabuai-Fidow gets it down the left edge, beats three defenders and scores his third try of the night! What a blinder he's had. Isaako hooks it into the posts and it's 38-0 to the Dolphins.
Katoa is having a blinder, he slides a well-weighted kick into the in-goal and Sloan can't make it out.
Marshall-King gets in on the action as he darts out, throws a dummy and scores next to the posts. I have the feeling there's still more tries to come as well. Isaako converts and it's 34-0 to the Dolphins.
Lomax makes an error on his own 30 and the Dolphins are on it again....until Flegler loses it into a Dragons player. Phins will challenge and they get it so they retain possession until Donoghoe knocks it on a couple of tackles later.
This is getting ugly. The Phins strike again straight away, Katoa swings it to Averillo who finds Bostock and he's away. A centre kick and you know Tabuai-Fidow is there to score! Great try, Isaako converts and the Dolphins are up 28-0.
A Lawrie error gives the Dolphins possession on the 30 metre line and then Katoa connects with Averillo who runs a great line and scores! Try on club debut from Averillo and a nice pass from Katoa, who has been very tidy tonight. Isaako converts, the Dolphins lead 22-0 and this one might be over.
A Bostock knock-on gives Saints a shot at the Dolphins line but they can't quite put it together - Hunt throws a pressure pass to Molo and he puts it down.
A well-placed Katoa bomb is caught by Ravalawa and he gets mobbed by Isaako and Farnworth and knocks it on. Then Marshall-King goes short to Nicholls and he's over next to the posts! Isaako converts and it's 16-0 Dolphins.
Dragons kick off and we're back at it.
A final Dolphins attack down the blindside is snuffed out when Isaako's chip kick is cleaned up by Sloan.
Good half of footy, the Dragons lacking a little polish but they're still right in the fight.
Sloan bursts into the back-field and chips over the top of Tabuai-Fidow, who just manages to knock it dead in time. But an error from Flanagan stops the Dragons from doing any more with it.
There's an all-time falcon as Hunt boots it straight into Marshall-King's head and the Dolphins end up with the scraps. Marshall-King goes for an HIA, he wore one there.
Ben Hunt bangs a 40/20 give Saints their first chance of the afternoon. An offside penalty on the last gives them another set.
But Molo drops the ball after a tough shot from Kaufusi and the Phins are off the hook.
Nikorima goes high looking for Isaako, he goes up high over Ravalawa and brings it in to score! Great leap, great try, Isaako can't convert but the Phins lead 10-0.
The Phins get us started with a beauty! Hunt puts up a bomb, Lomax chases it hard but Bostock makes a great catch and he has support in Tabuai-Fidow - once he's in the clear that's it! Great try, Isaako converts, Dolphins lead 6-0.
Let's go again! Dolphins running right to left and they kick off.
A really good win for Manly, set the tone physically from the opening whistle. The Roosters just could not get it together, errors and penalties killed them all day.
Walker dabs a nice little kick behind the play the ball and Keary is first to it but it doesn't sit up for him. As he dives for it, his head hits Trbojevic's knee and he'll go for an HIA. Fingers crossed for him, he's had some awful trouble with concussions in the past.
Told ya! Cherry-Evans buries it from about 20 out, right in front. Manly lead 21-14 and they might have this one wrapped up.
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