The Dolphins delivered a 36-16 demolition of the Sharks in Wayne Bennett’s 900th sport as coach, and one man stood out on debut — Valynce Te Whare.
The 22-year-old rugby union convert scored a double, crossing for a four-pointer solely 23 minutes into his NRL profession.
Dolphins veteran Jarrod Wallace advised foxsports.com.au Te Whare would turn out to be a “cult hero” in Redcliffe and the younger gun confirmed precisely why on Saturday evening.
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After Brenko Lee’s hamstring damage in Round 9, Te Whare slotted into the suitable centre spot after spending solely a single season within the Dolphins’ Queensland Cup aspect in 2022.
Te Whare was recruited by the Dolphins in December 2021 and had by no means performed the 13-man code previous to becoming a member of the NRL’s latest franchise.
Speaking within the post-match press convention, Fox League’s Eamonn Tiernan requested Bennett why the Dolphins signed Te Whare.
In true Wayne Bennett vogue, he delivered a hilarious response.
“We thought he was an investment into the future. We were looking for talent, and he is talented,” Bennett stated.
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“Why this week for his debut?” Tiernan requested.
“Because I had a bad night’s sleep, and I made a decision,” Bennett stated with a wry smile.
“It was what I came up with, it was in the dream… I think we are going to find with Val he is a big match player and the bigger the occasion the better he will play.
“There’s just some players who have that kind of psych and I think that’s part of his DNA.”
Bennett was additionally requested what he considered Te Whare’s efficiency on debut with the younger gun recording 72 operating metres, two tries and 6 deal with breaks.
While the debutant was harmful in assault, the grasp coach highlighted his defence as an space of enchancment.
“He can be better, he’s got a lot of improvement in him but it wasn’t a bad start in his first NRL game,” Bennett stated.
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“Ball in hand he is pretty devastating,” a reporter replied.
“Well it is when he doesn’t that worries me,” Bennett stated.
Reporters additionally knowledgeable Bennett and skipper Felise Kaufusi Te Whare’s household and teammates had delivered an emotional Haka.
Queue one other jab from the grasp coach
“He did a Haka did he, good on him… he had more energy than he thought he did, that’s great,” Bennett stated.
“Maybe he should be talking about us, the effort we put into him.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au