His father won four premierships for the Brisbane Broncos, yet was never able to add a State of Origin cap to his resume. But Max Plath appears destined to rewrite that family history, with the versatile Dolphin at the heart of his side’s 28-10 triumph over the Melbourne Storm.
While he landed on the NRL radar as a lock, having also played backrow and five-eighth, Plath’s shift to hooker in the absence of the injured Jeremy Marshall-King has showcased just how capable a utility he could be in the Queensland Maroons fold.
The 24-year-old’s fingerprints were all over the best of what the Dolphins produced on Friday night, and there is an increasing likelihood he will be joined in the Origin arena by teammate Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – who crossed for the final try of the night after running for more than 200 metres for the fourth time this season.
Aside from immovable defence, which yielded 44 tackles, Plath was key to the Dolphins finally getting on the board late in the first half – firing a brilliant cutout pass for Selwyn Cobbo to score in the shadows of halftime, after a break and kick infield from his winger Jamayne Isaako to gain the attacking territory.
His work out of dummy half to almost put Finefeuiaki over in the second term, but despite Storm centre Jack Howarth’s sensational try-saving tackle, the Dolphins were quick to raid the short side for Isaako to strike.
Plath was at it again shortly after, his scything run out of the ruck getting his side on the attack, before returning centre Jack Bostock, in his first NRL appearance since rupturing his ACL last year, split the Melbourne defence open to score.
Bostock, who scored twice in the opening 10 minutes of his comeback through Queensland Cup last week, soon had a second when he desperately clutched onto an attacking bomb to seal the victory.
The second half turnaround was a complete contrast to what the Dolphins produced in the opening half, as mistakes cost them dearly and threatened to gift the under siege Storm the win in torrential conditions.
Finefeuiaki, Isaiya Katoa and Tom Gilbert all dropped the ball inside the Storm’s 20-metre zone, and the latter was also penalised for taking out a defender and denying what looked to be a certain try.
A mistake at the play the ball by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was also to blame for Melbourne’s first chance to strike, one which was taken by Tyran Wishart – who reached out to score, but then limped from the field with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
But after suffering four-straight losses of their own – the last two being gut-wrenching defeats, to Penrith (one point) and the Warriors (two points) respectively – the Dolphins’ second-half rally may be the injection of confidence they need to mount a charge to a maiden finals berth.
Storm fail to secure a win amid Bellamy heartache
Six weeks of defeat culminated in a moment of heartbreak for the Storm, after news broke that coach Craig Bellamy had been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder.
Never has Bellamy endured such a losing streak – one which now stretches to seven games, and includes four halftime leads. But that extended run of poor form from his powerhouse club became a sub-plot.
The rugby league community has rallied around Bellamy since his health battle was revealed, with Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater – who has been a regular presence at Storm HQ – declaring on Nine he was ready to take on more responsibility to support his former coach if needed.
“He’s someone you’ve looked up to and has led you over the best part of the last 25 years, and to know he is going through a bit of a battle and is going to continue going through a battle for a period of time is pretty hard to take,” Slater said.
“You do things that you care for, and Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm are two things that I really care for, so if Craig Bellamy ever asks me for a hand, he wouldn’t have to ask twice.”
Unfortunately, Bellamy’s team – despite leading 10-0 – could not lift for their coach. Twice early in the second term, they squandered attacking chances, as knock-ons from Davvy Moale and Cooper Clarke, among their 13 errors, denied them the opportunity to extend their lead.
Cameron Munster and Harry Grant also posed too few questions in attack, with this run of form threatening to relegate the juggernaut team to their first season out of finals contention since 2010.
Young wizard’s try of the year contender
If there is one thing Melbourne know, it is how to produce standout fullbacks. Slater will go down as one of the best to grace the NRL, and now Sualauvi Fa’alogo is showing signs of one day joining him among the code’s all-time greats.
The 23-year-old Samoan livewire completed an early contender for try of the year, making the Dolphins’ defence look hapless from the moment he latched on to an Isaiya Katoa clearance kick.
Fa’alogo glided towards his right-side winger Will Warbrick, only for his footwork to then weave through the defence – including strike centre Herbie Farnworth – to break into the back field.
Only Tabuai-Fidow could have stopped him, but his younger rival showed his smarts when it mattered. It was a thing of beauty how he put the brakes on to evade the Queensland Maroons superstar to score.
Fa’alogo appeared destined to repeat the effort early in the second half, streaking downfield again after intercepting Bostock’s offload from reeling in a bomb, with Tabuai-Fidow sent to the sin bin after chasing his rival down but holding him too long.
While he finished with 176 running metres and six tackle busts, Melbourne were unable to capitalise.
