Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

It takes a big story, for a NRL match between two Australian teams to make the TV1 News at 6pm sport segment.

Last Sunday afternoon I sat down to watch my new NRL team, the Dolphins, in a Queensland derby with the Gold Coast Titans.

A New Zealand Warriors fan since day one, my change of allegiance for the 2023 NRL season, was driven by the gift of a Dolphins jersey at Christmas from my oldest son.

Son number one lives a hop, step and jump from Redcliffe, which is home base of the Dolphins, and has quickly become an devoted fan of the NRL new recruits.

His facebook messages back over the ditch on game day, mirrored a match that will take legendary status in the new club's history.

Message one was on arrival in Brisbane; full of expectation for his team, mentored by one of the true great coaches of the game in Wayne Bennett.

Message two at halftime was of a very unhappy fan.

The Dolphins faithful, who came in their thousands to Suncorp Stadium in the heart of Brisbane, couldn't believe their eyes as the Titans ran over their opponents to lead by 26 unanswered points.

A Dolphins touchdown reduced the carnage a little, with the scoreboard showing a 26-6 Titans advantage, at half time.

Message three, celebrated a victory which equalled the biggest comeback in NRL history, being the Cowboys coming from 28-2 down to beat the Penrith Panthers in 1998.

Whatever was said by Coach Bennett at half time should be put in a bottle and sold. The Dolphins stormed out of the break in play, with ferocity and determination, which was severely lacking in the first half.

They dominated possession and defended like tigers, to grab four second half tries in snatching a 28-26 victory, which seemed completely out of reach in the first 35 minutes of the encounter.

My belief is that the unbelievable comeback from a 26 point deficit was built upon two key facets of rugby league. Wayne Bennett's truckload of coaching experience in rugby league saw him use his interchange bench with stunning success.

The Dolphins fitness ensured that the side pounced on the Titans mistakes in the second half, which they transferred into points on the board. While the Titans were standing with mouths open in exhaustion in the second spell the Dolphins had grins of success on their faces,.

Eight rounds into the 2023 title race, the Dolphins sit in sixth place with a five win - three loss record, which is an impressive start in their NRL debut season.

Lurking alongside the Dolphins on the standings, are the New Zealand Warriors, who are another team to exceed initial expectations at season start.

While I have jumped ship to support the Dolphins, deep down, I will always be a Warriors fan forever.

Bring on Saturday the 3rd June 2023, when the Warriors take on the Dolphins in what should be a sell-out crowd at the New Zealand team's fortress at Mount Smart Stadium.