Averillo answers the call

Just as he did last year in the penultimate round, Jake Averillo has responded to an SOS into the No.6 jumper in emphatic fashion.

Kodi Nikorima’s hamstring injury exposed another gaping hole in the Dolphins line up, with Sean O’Sullivan failing to fire in last week’s defeat to Cronulla.

But Averillo shifted in from the centres to provide some spark and a running threat alongside Katoa.

His first moment was fortuitous, a poor pass from Zac Laybutt hitting winger Jaxon Paulo’s boot for Averillo to scoop up and streak the length of the field to score.

But then it was through the hands he found his mojo, playing definitive roles in both of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s tries; one with a deft pass on a blindside raid to unleash Herbie Farnworth, and a short ball to put Lemuelu away untouched.

Averillo was quick to make an impact coming out of halftime, finding a late offload for Lemuelu who put Tabuai-Fidow into the clear again, with the territory leading to hooker Harrison Graham diving over to score.

His support play then gifted him the final try, finishing the night with two tries and 193 metres.

Molo’s importance laid bare

Francis Molo may be making a case as the most important recruitment move of the season, having only arrived at Redcliffe after the season had begun.

At full strength, the Dolphins starting forward pack reads Daniel Saifiti, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, with Felise Kaufusi factoring as well.

Of that group, only Finefeuiaki (fractured thumb) and Kaufusi (knee) will return at some stage this season, leading the Dolphins to draw on development players Aublix Tawha and Peter Hola just to fill a side.

But they fought valiantly and restricted the Cowboys to a simple Taualgi try in the corner for the opening half.

Molo’s 78 metres from seven carries in his opening stint generated some momentum, and he was replaced by an energetic Josh Kerr (99 metres) and Ray Stone (110 metres) to provide some go-forward for the under siege hosts.

However, the Cowboys did at times make life daunting for the Dolphins to get out from their own end, and the closer they get to finals the steeper that mountain will be to climb.

Molo’s importance is now paramount.

Where to now for Payten’s Cowboys?

Last week they came agonisingly close to securing an upset triumph of the high-flying Bulldogs, their finest defensive performance of the season undone by their own errors.

But any joy Cowboys coach Todd Payten could have taken from their improved resilience was quickly undone, leaving him to lament how his side can eradicate the glaring inconsistencies in their game.

North Queensland would have been at a loss how they headed into the sheds down by 18 points when their rivals had registered just two tackles inside their 20-metre zone.

While they are missing key enforcers Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean through injury, getting in position was hardly the problem – their poor execution and inability to defend their mistakes proved costly, committing three errors within 10 metres of the Dolphins’ line.

Off the ball, they conceded five tries which began inside the hosts’ half.