NRL LIVE updates: Dolphins skip out to big early lead against South Sydney

Latrell Mitchell has been kept quiet since the early stages in this one and he now loses the ball in a tackle from Jack Bostock. He uses a captain’s challenge to try to reverse the call, but it’s a bad call and the Rabbitohs lose possession and their challenge.

Then Campbell Graham immediately gives away a penalty for a high tackle, and the Dolphins go on the attack.

Dolphins 20, Rabbitohs 0 with 31 minutes left

The Dolphins kick off the second half and the Rabbitohs have it all to do.

But they are one of the best attacking team in the league this season, especially with Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell on the left edge.

And in a big blow for the Dolphins, they’ve lost Kodi Nikorima to a hamstring injury after an excellent first half from the five-eighth. Kurt Donoghoe replaces him in the halves.

Dolphins 20, Rabbitohs 0 with 37 minutes left

The Rabbitohs spread it wide but winger Bayleigh Bentley-Hape is carried over the sideline, and the Dolphins have the final chance of the first half. They go wide to the left and Selwyn Cobbo takes off down the sideline and grubbers a kick back inside, but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow can’t pick it up cleanly.

Still, the Dolphins will be very happy with that first half against their old coach Wayne Bennett and a very talented Rabbitohs side.

Dolphins 20, Rabbitohs 0 at half-time

One of the final plays of the game summed up exactly how Canterbury are travelling now.

Lachlan Galvin was put into open space by Matt Burton on Friday night and started charging to the try line in the final minute. But Hohepu Puru chased hard and grabbed Galvin, then Sam Stonestreet pulled down Galvin’s pants, and the playmaker bounced the ball before the line.

Bulldogs players and fans probably didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The 38-16 defeat was their fifth straight loss, and finals football is starting to look like a pipedream.

Read the full match report from Christian Nicolussi

An escort penalty against Latrell Mitchell gives the Dolphins another chance, and after Lachlan Hubner gives away a six-again the Dolphins go left and Kodi Nikorima continues an excellent first half with a short that sends Herbie Farnworth over the line.

The Dolphins are red hot in attack and the Rabbitohs are repeatedly welcoming them into their own end with errors tonight. Jamayne Isaako is in fine form with the boot too, landing another tricky conversion.

Dolphins 20, Rabbitohs 0 after 32 minutes

The Dolphins are on a roll now. Max Plath, the Mr Fix-It who has become a dangerous dummy-half for the Redcliffe side, takes the ball in front of the posts, considers sending it wide but sees half a gap and runs himself instead, barging his way over the line.

Jamayne Isaako converts and the Dolphins have built a strong early lead.

Dolphins 14, Rabbitohs 0 after 25 minutes

Two set restarts give the Dolphins a golden chance to score and they take it, Kodi Nikorima getting a quick pass away to put Herbie Farnworth in a two-on-one situation, and the English centre unleashes Selwyn Cobbo who bursts for the left corner and dives over. Nice try.

Jamayne Isaako nails the conversion from the sideline.

Dolphins 8, Rabbitohs 0 after 19 minutes

The Dolphins are on the board first. Herbie Farnworth weaves across field and pops an offload towards Morgan Knowles, but Knowles is tackled early by Tallis Duncan and the Dolphins take the penalty goal from right in front of the posts.

Dolphins 2, Rabbitohs 0 after 15 minutes