Missed all the hype of the latest NRL Round and need and/or want to catch up in the quickest way possible? Well The Gurgler has you covered for the latest Dolphins game with our 2025 NRL Round 7 Dolphins v Storm – One Minute Match Report.
Our popular One Minute Match Reviews offer up just enough facts and figures and opinion to make it through the waiting for an Uber or Monday morning coffee catch ups, fifty cent train rides or carpools.
MATCH THOUGHTS
Greatest Dolphins game ever? Top three for sure. What a night for the Dolphins fans and what a turnaround of a season that was in danger of being over before May. Consecutive wins over Penrith and Melbourne are four bonus points when looking at the 2025 NRL draw at the start of the season, and even more important given their 2025 campaign started with four straight losses.
The end result of 42-22 was unexpected. Not just the result but the second half dominance of a side that are tipped by many to win the premiership. Even more unexpected was not one, but two tries to Ray Stone. Who appeared to hate scoring both. Like he does. He doesn’t want spotlight, just team success and hurt opposition.
And what an impact Ray and his friends from the bench provided for the Dolphins on Friday night. Josh Kerr was at his best in a Dolphins jersey and his determined opening try set up the momentum shift. Connelly Lemuelu was huge when he came on, and his try was about the time Dolphins fans could start believing. Not to mention Kurt Donoghoe who had an extended stint due to Max Plath’s injury. Donoghue’s late sin binning meant Ray Stone became the fourth-choice hooker. Of course he killed it, like so many of those tree-felling tackles before. Four of the first tries for the Dolphins came from the bench.
Even when the Dolphins were down 16-2, it felt it was more of a Melbourne in red-hot form than the Dolphins playing badly, unlike earlier in the season. And once they had scored, given Melbourne’s second halves have been weaker this season, mainly because they have been so far in front, you felt the Dolphins had a sniff. And they filled their nose in the second half.
The much-maligned halves earlier in the season, and they did deserve some of it, were huge against the Storm, with Isiaya Katoa running the team like a ten year veteran, and Nikorima being one of those was electric throughout and has been a very underrated contributor for the Dolphins.
Not underrated, but potentially not appreciated enough is Herbie Farnworth who has been the Dolphins best and continues to be a star performer every week. He is a tackle busting machine, who gives the Dolphins so much momentum when they need it.
So the Dolphins are within touching distance of the top eight now after seeing off last season’s grand finalists. They need to take advantage of a slightly kinder draw and keep this winning streak going. And the Ray Stone tries a-coming.
2025 NRL Round 7 Match Result – Dolphins v Storm Stats
Courtesy of nrl.com
BEST OF STATS
It is only the second time since 2004 that the Storm have conceded over 40 points. The last time was in 2023 v North Qld during Origin.
It was the third highest score against Melbourne by a Qld side and the highest total conceded at Suncorp Stadium against anyone.
It was the Dolphins third highest score ever and just the third time they have scored 40 points or more.
It was Ray Stone’s second double v Melbourne, with the first back in Round Three of 2022. He has only scored three other tries in the NRL career.
The win was the Dolphins first ever at Suncorp on a Friday night. They had lost the previous five.
It was only Melbourne second loss in 24 games on a Friday v non Sydney teams.
Herbie Farnworth is averaging one tackle break every second run this season.
Melbourne average the third highest total of points scored against for the second half in 2025.
