Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Rd 2: Dolphins, Eels impress under new coaches

In Thursday night's match, Cronulla Sharks defeated Canberra Raiders 40-10 at GIO Stadium on the back of a powerful forward display and some classy touches from Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall. The Sharks picked up two bonus points for 5+ plus tries and 5+ line breaks.

Follow all the action from Round 2 of the 2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on NRL.com's live blog.

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9.45pm: Dolphins secondrower James Walsh ensured his team became the first this season to pile on a half century of points when he scored in the 72nd minute and Ben Stevanovic converted.

9.33pm: The total points for the match moved past 50 midway through the second half when Cook Islands international Mason Teague scored for the Dolphins but there was still some sting in the defences of both teams.

9.15pm: Nonu completed his hat-trick as the Dolphins continued to dominate, with the winger forcing his way over the line after precision passing from O'Sullivan and Fijian playmaker Kurt O'Donohoe to create space out wide.

8.50pm: The Dolphins lead 34-4 at half-time after former Bulldogs centre Jake Averillo scored his side's sixth try just before the siren.

Winger LJ Nonu crossed for the first two tries in just eight minutes and centre Tevita Naufahu (17th min) and forwards Aublix Tawha (22) and Michael Waqa (29) followed him over the tryline.

The Cowboys only real scoring opportunity came in the 26th minute when rookie five-eighth Jarrett Subloo crossed. 

8.30pm: The game had looked like getting away from the Cowboys when second-rower Aublix Tawha scored the Dolphins' fourth try but rookie five-eighth Jarrett Subloo stemmed the flow when he scored in the 26th minute.

8.18pm: O'Sullivan was again involved as New Zealand rugby union convert Tevita Naufahu - playing left centre - scored the third try for the Dolphins against a shellshocked Cowboys outfit.

8.12pm: Nonu gets his second try within the opening eight minutes after O'Sullivan and Feagai again combined to give the Dolphins an early 12-0 lead. 

8.05pm: The Dolphins strike first in the opening minute through 2023 Queensland U19s winger LJ Nonu after quick hands by five-eighth Sean O'Sullivan and former Dragons centre Max Feagai.

7.41pm: Miller-Stephen grabbed his second try to complete a 44-18 win by the Eels.

7.35pm: Former Australian Schoolboy star Sam Loizou scored Parramatta's next try as the Eels continued to exploit room on the edges of the Newcastle defence with quick hands. 

7.28pm: The Eels hit back through quick tries to outside backs Jordan Samrani and Arthur Miller-Stephen to extend their lead to 34-18.

7.22pm: Gamble kicked a 40/20 to put the Knights in a good attacking position and then put rookie Jermaine McEwen over.

7.09pm: The Knights go back-to-back with McCarthy scoring after Jackson Hastings, playing as a small ball playing middle combined with fellow playmakers Tyson Gamble and Sharpe to put the centre over. 

7.05pm: The Knights started the second half with renewed energy and were rewarded with winger Logan Aoake scoring in the corner after quick hands through Sharpe, Connor Votano and Riley Jones.

6.47: Brown and Volkman continue to trouble the defence and Joash Papalii scored just before halftime to give the Eels a 22-4 halftime lead.

6.41: While the Eels looked slick early, the same couldn't be said for the Knights, with an errant pass from Will Pryce resulting in centre Riley Jones being driven into his own in-goal.

6.36pm: Halfback Ronald Volkman, who did not play last year after being released by the Warriors to join the Dragons but departed his new club following a failed a medical, put Kelma Tuilagi over for Parramatta's next try.

6.30pm: Iongi gave a glimpse of why Ryles was keen to sign him to replace former Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson when he sent winger Jake Tago over in the corner with a double pump pass. 

6:25pm: Greg Marzhew proved unstoppable close to the line for the Knights after quick hands through centre Kyle McCarthy. Fullback Will Pryce missed the conversion. Eels lead 6-4.

6.18pm: The Eels lost their captain's challenge after unsuccessfully contesting a loose carry by Fijian second-rower Kitione Kautogoa, who claimed the ball had been stripped by Brodie Jones. 

6.05pm: It didn't take long for Brown - who has been linked to Newcastle for 2026 after advising the Eels he would test the market - to show his value when he powered over to score from a scrum win near the Knights line.

6.02pm: The Eels began the Ryles era when Brown kicked off to Knights winger Greg Marzhew.