Griffin's Dragons' huge response as Bennett's Dolphins face halves ...

The Dragons have responded to two disappointing losses with a strong 38-12 victory over the NRL newcomers, the Dolphins.

Anthony Griffin’s side were flogged by both the Broncos and Sharks in the club’s last two outings and had a point to prove with pressure on the maligned coach.

The Dolphins scored the first try of the afternoon courtesy of an Isaiya Katoa pass for winger Jamayne Isaako.

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But their joy would end their, with halfback Anthony Milford leaving the field with a hamstring injury in a huge blow to the 17th team.

Red V dummy-half Jacob Liddle scored the next try before he assisted Blake Lawrie for his second four-pointer of the season.

To start the second half, Zac Lomax scored after a horror Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow error as the ball landed in his lap.

Halfback Ben Hunt then charged over the line, burrowing his head down to score an impressive try.

Mikaeale Ravalawa then scored a quickfire double, charging over the line twice while Dolphins prop Mark Nichols was sent to the sin bin.

Tabuai-Fidow attempted to get his side back into the contest, calling his team back after scoring from a Isaako break.

However the Dragons hit back through a smart Tyrell Sloan break as the young gun burnt his opposing fullback and put the game to bed.

Read below for the key talking points from tonight’s clash!

DOLPHINS’ INJURY NIGHTMARE

Wayne Bennett now has a huge halves headache on his hands after a “disaster” injury to veteran playmaker Anthony Milford.

The 28-year-old lasted only 18 minutes before he clutched at his hamstring, hobbling off the field before sitting on the bench with his head in his hands.

The blow comes only a week after the NRL’s newest franchise lost key halfback Sean O’Sullivan to a pectoral injury, with his return date set for Round 17 or later.

“It’s more than a mini disaster… with his head in his hands Anthony Milford can’t believe it,” Fox League’s Voss said.

Fox League’s Corey Parker revealed Bennett’s immediate solution to the problem, with former Bulldogs Jeremy Marshall-King filled in at halfback.

“We saw Marshall-King fill in to where Milford was defending, so if he goes into the halves role and Ray Stone into the hooking role,” Parker said.

“That’s a huge blow, they lost O’Sullivan last week.”

Bennett will likely look to former Rabbitohs utility Kodi Nikorima to fill into the vacant halfback role, while Marshall-King could also take over the No.7 jersey with either Nikorima or Kurt Donoghoe coming on to the bench.

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DRAGONS’ 60-POINT TURNAROUND

“I thought it was very embarrassing,” Dragons captain Ben Hunt said after the club’s clash against the Sharks.

“I don’t think there is a guy in our side who could put their hand up and say they played well in that second half.”

In Round 3 and 4 the Dragons were blown out of the park by both the Broncos and Sharks, going to water with two abysmal second half performances.

The Red V conceded 60 second half points across the two games and had a point to prove with Anthony Griffin’s future at the club in doubt after he was informed he had to reapply for his job.

According to Fox League’s James Hooper, Griffin begged his team to keep up their defensive intensity during the break before they got a “red hot start”.

A Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow error handed the Dragons a Zac Lomax try and Griffin’s side capitalised from there, with Ben Hunt darting over the tryline.

The Red V then went on to pile on the points, recording five tries in the final 40 minutes in a huge response.

Speaking post-match last week, Hunt also said the noise surrounding Griffin’s role “won’t go away” with poor performances.

But now with a win over the Dolphins, albeit without key players, Griffin could make a case to remain at the helm.

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LIKE A FINE WINE

For many players, hitting 33 would see their NRL career coming to a close while many would have already hung up the boots.

But now Ben Hunt, who seems to age like a fine wine and delivered yet another impressive performance in a statement win over the Dolphins.

Hunt was clearly furious with his team after last week’s loss to the Sharks, putting his team on his shoulders to lead from the front against Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.

“Ben Hunt, the Dragons captain coming off with a big play, 33-years-of-age, this is his 294th NRL game, he is in his 15th season,” Fox League’s James Hooper said.

“There is an argument that Ben Hunt just continues to get better with age.”

Fox League’s Andrew Voss said Hunt looked a “man on a mission” and has once again been the Dragons’ best player after five rounds.

Hunt finished the night with five tackle breaks, a try, a line break, a line break assist and a try assist in the Red V’s seven-try performance.