Dolphins edge Cowboys in Townsville NRL shootout

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Playmaker Kodi Nikorima (l) pulled the strings as the Dolphins won a thriller against the Cowboys. (Scott Radford-Chisholm/AAP PHOTOS)

Kodi Nikorima has launched the Dolphins back into the NRL's top four, after the Dolphins outgunned North Queensland 28-26 in an old-fashioned Townsville shootout.

On a bad night for defensive coaches, the Cowboys and Dolphins scored 10 tries between them as the lead changed hands five times.

Nikorima starred as he set up four tries, combining brilliantly with 20-year-old Isaiya Katoa who continues to come of age as a No.7, while winger Jamayne Issako scored three tries.

The result consigned the Cowboys to a fourth straight loss, with defence continuing to be a problem for a team that has no issue scoring points.

After tries came thick and fast - at the rate of one every six minutes in the first 50 minutes - the game tightened up late with the score locked at 22-22.

Jake Averillo landed the decisive blow for the Dolphins with 12 minutes left, chasing through on a grubberkick from Nikorima to make it 28-22.

But the Cowboys gave themselves late hope when Scott Drinkwater put Jeremiah Nanai through a hole, only for Valentine Holmes to miss the conversion from near the sideline.

The Cowboys then had one last attack and twice appealed for offsides, but were denied.

Ultimately though, the hosts were left to kick themselves after they blew an early 10-0 lead and also bombed two second-half tries.

The attacking tone for the match was set early when Holmes burst downfield on the second tackle, and Kyle Feldt and Reuben Cotter both scored in the first six minutes.

But after their horror start, the Dolphins were able to fight back.

Three times in the first half Katoa went to the line and held the defence up, before combining with Nikorima for the five-eighth to put an outside man over.

Off-contract at the end of this year, Nikorima is quickly proving he can be of value for the Dolphins and next year's coach Kristian Wolff.

Isaako scored twice off the 30-year-old before the break, while Tesi Niu also crossed once.

After trailing 22-18 at halftime, the Dolphins first try of the second half was their best of the night when Averillo flicked a ball back inside him for Isaako to get his third.

The win did come at a cost for the Dolphins, with Niu suffering a serious-looking ankle injury and Felise Kaufusi going on report for a high shot.

Australian Associated Press