Dolphins Australian Rugby Team’s Journey to Excellence
The Redcliffe Dolphins launched a bid for induction into the NRL competition in 2020. Two other teams also sought entry into the league, Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets.
The Dolphins successfully gained acceptance into the league in 2021, in our opinion because they were able to secure the legendary Wayne Bennett as a coach. Wayne Bennett is one of the most successful coaches of the NRL, winning the most grand finals of any other coach in Australian rugby league history. Following induction, Wayne Bennett and the team management focused on building a successful roster of players.
This focus on excellence at every level, from management to coach to players, makes the Dolphins a formidable team to watch, guaranteed to shake up league play for the 2023 Australian rugby season.
History
With the opening of the new grandstand at Moreton Daily Stadium (known as Kayo Stadium since 2022) the Redcliffe Dolphins launched a bid in 2020 for the induction of a new team into the NRL competition. On the 13th of October 2021, the NRL granted the Dolphins a license to compete in the league. The Dolphins competed against two other organizations (the Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets). One of the team’s major sponsors is Bluebet who is a big supporter of NRL.
Team Colours
The Dolphins have chosen to go with red and white but have added gold so as to not clash with St George Illawarra. The Redcliffe name is not being used in an effort to broaden the name amongst Queensland NRL supporters and not narrow the team support to one local area. Phinny was voted in as the club’s mascot (a Dolphin).
The Clubs Jerseys
In October 2021 the club announced it had chosen its jersey. The jersey will be a heritage-style jersey inspired by the 1980s Redcliffe Dolphins. The jersey looks awesome, we believe this club has what it takes to become a strong force in the NRL competition. The list of players is a great start for any new club and having a senior coach like Wayne Bennett, you can be assured in years to come he will attract more superstars to the team.
Sponsors
The Dolphins were lucky enough to secure Bluebet as a sponsor, this is a major win as Bluebet is an awesome company. The Dolphins also managed to secure classic sportswear, Adventure Kings, Budget Direct, and KFC. We are sure the players will be eating a lot of chicken in 2023. These top-level sponsors are important because they have the financial muscle to support Wayne Bennett’s vision of creating and maintaining a top-performing rugby team.
List Of Players For 2023
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Born: 5 September 2001 (age 21 years), Cairns
Position: Fullback, Wing, Centre
Height: 1.86 m
Weight: 89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Profile
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be playing as the Dolphin’s fullback. He has also played center and winger during his career. He is considered a versatile player and in 2023 is looking to prove himself after a frustrating knee injury plagued his last season.
2. Edrick Lee
Born: 18 September 1992 (age 30 years), Brisbane
Position: Wing, Centre
Height: 1.96 m
Weight: 97 kg
Profile
Edric Lee will be playing as a winger. He has played in the State Of Origin and is a solid disciplined player. He was the first Newcastle player to score five tries in one game.
3. Tesi Niu
Born: 11 August 2001 (age 21 years), Brisbane
Position: Fullback, Centre
Height: 1.77 m
Weight: 94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Profile
Tesi Niu – can play as a full-back or center. In 2023 we expect him to be playing center. He plays hard and has already played a season under Wayne Bennet.
4. Valynce Te Whare
Born: 15 September 2000 (age 22 years), Waikato District, New Zealand
Position: Centre
Height: 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight: 108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
Profile
Valynce Te Whare – we believe will be playing center. He is a dynamic player who is fast and hard-hitting. He is young and strong and fits Wayne Bennetts’s playbook perfectly (he is a beast)!
5. Jamayne Isaako
Born: 5 June 1996 (age 26 years), Christchurch, New Zealand
Weight: 95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Height: 1.8 m
Position: Centre
Profile
Jamayne Isaako – is big for a winger and plays hard. Super fast and fit we expect him to get a lot of ball in 2023 and rip it up for the Dolphins. He is one of the more senior players in the team’s backline.
6. Anthony Milford
Born: 11 July 1994 (age 28 years), Brisbane
Position: Five-eighth
Height: 1.77 m
Weight: 90 kg
Profile
Anthony Milford – plays five eight comfortably and is one of the more senior players for the Dolphins. With the Dolphin’s young lineup in the backline, this NRL player will be an instrumental part of the Dolphin’s 2023 campaign.
7. Sean O’Sullivan
Born: 21 August 1998 St George, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Position: Halfback
Height: 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight: 86 kg (13 st 8 lb)
Profile
Sean O’Sullivan – plays halfback for the Dolphins. He will be an important piece of the puzzle for a serious push into the semi-finals for the NRL Dolphins in 2023. He is a veteran player and we look forward to seeing what he can do out wide with such a young backline to support him.
8. Mark Nicholls
Born: 5 January 1990 (age 33 years), Wagga Wagga
Position: Prop
Height: 1.94 m
Weight: 104 kg
Profile
Mark Nicholls – is a veteran front rower. He is a well-disciplined player who puts everything he has into every game. At 33 years old he will be a senior player for the Dolphins team.
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
Born: 2 December 1995 (age 27 years), Whakatāne, New Zealand
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.86 m
Weight: 83kg
Profile
Jeremey Marshall King – plays hooker, he is small for a hooker but is fast and agile. He has also played halfback and is considered a versatile player. He is one of the veteran players for the Dolphins.
10. Jesse Bromwich
Born: 3 May 1989 (age 33 years), Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Prop
Height: 1.94 m
Weight: 114kg
Profile
Jesse Bromwich- is one of the 2023 star imports. Jesse is a star NRL player who is strong, dynamic, and extremely disciplined on the field, another perfect match for coach Wayne Bennett.
11. Kenny Bromwich
Born: 22 September 1991 (age 31 years), Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Second Row
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Profile
Kenny Bromwich – plays second row and is a straight-up workhorse. It’s great to see Kenny and Jesse playing for the same team in 2023. He is an underrated player who puts in the hard yakka in every match he plays.
12. Felise Kaufusi
Born: 19 May 1992 (age 30 years), Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Second Row
Height: 1.89 m
Weight: 112 kg
Profile
Felise Kaufusi – is a bit of a mommy’s boy and is known to run for the water bottle when things get tough on the field (NOT!). He is an absolute weapon who is feared in the NRL. The kinda guy when you see he is lining you up, that players wait for the next set before having a run. He looks determined at the moment, so look out 2023!
13. Ray Stone
Born: 6 June 1997 (age 25 years), Moss Vale
Position: Lock, Hooker
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 95 kg
Profile
Ray Stone – is an interesting pick. He has played some good footy in the NRL and won man of the moment for a game-winning try in 2022. He has great determination and can lift himself when the moment arises.
14. Kodi Nikorima
Born: 3 April 1994 (age 28 years)
Position: Five-eighth, Halfback, Hooker, Fullback
Height: 1.74 m
Weight: 85 kg
Profile
Kodi Nikorami – this young bloke can play the game don’t let his pretty boy looks fool you. He is versatile, and aggressive and will be a great match for Wayne’s coaching style.
15. Tom Gilbert
Born: 5 August 2000 (age 22 years), Brisbane
Position: Second-row, Prop, Lock
Height: 1.85 m
Weight: 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Profile
Tom Gilbert – this bloke can play the game. He is an underrated player in the NRL. He plays hard runs the ball straight and doesn’t miss many tackles.
16. Jarrod Wallace
Born: 23 July 1991 (age 31 years), Gold Coast
Position: Prop
Height: 1.88 m
Weight: 109 kg (17 st 2 lb)
Profile
Jarrod Wallace – boom! What a great player and add-on for the Dolphins! This player’s outspoken loyalty toward the Dolphins coach is what we love to see. Made public he threatened his manager with getting the sack if he didn’t get him over to Wayne this year in a text message that went public.
17. Euan Aitken
Born: 16 June 1995 (age 27 years), Pambula
Position: Centre, Second-row
Height: 1.82 m
Weight: 96 kg
Profile
Euan Aitken – as an absolute star. We like the way he plays and the side-to-side movement we expect to see in 2023 from the Dolphins fits his game.
Dolphins Management Team
Coach – Wayne Bennett
Assistant Coach Kristian Woolf
In 2023 Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins have put together a team that resembles the early Broncos. With an experienced forward pack and a younger agile big back line, we expect some exciting footy in 2023. The Dolphins have gone for experienced halves who are exciting but disciplined at the same time. We expect to see a lot of side-to-side movement as Wayne encourages players to take some risks, but trains in the discipline at training.
NRL Dolphins
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