The man behind the NRL’s expansion into the Gold Coast has warned the Dolphins their early years will be bleak if they can’t coax someone of Cameron Munster’s quality to Redcliffe.
The Dolphins’ failure to make a splash in the player market was accentuated last week by Kalyn Ponga’s decision to stay at Newcastle, leaving the NRL’s 17th club increasingly unlikely to capture a big fish.
Since their 2023 entry into the competition was rubber-stamped last October, Wayne Bennett’s only established signings are Kenny Bromwich, Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, Jamayne Isaako, Ray Stone, Mark Nicholls and Tom Gilbert.
The Dolphins have increasingly been used as leverage by player managers as the likes of Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney and now Ponga have slipped through their grasp.
It’s already threatening to be a point of concern, according to Gold Coast’s inaugural football manager Scott Sattler.
“Missing Ponga is a big one,” he told AAP.
(Photo by Peter Lorimer/Getty Images)
“Munster is not even in the discussion at the moment because he’s on contract for 2023 and the Dolphins have already taken three of Melbourne’s players.”
Sattler knows a thing or two about start-up clubs.
His father, John, was part of the consortium that entered the Gold Coast Giants into the competition in 1988 at four months’ notice.
Sattler played for the South Queensland Crushers between 1995 and 1996 before being part of the Titans’ set up for their entry back in 2007.
“I reckon they could be a big chance of signing Reece Walsh from the Warriors because he engages a young fan base,” he said.
“The signings they’ve made will set the values that will continue through the club.
“They are astute moves by Wayne (Bennett) but you do need that big fish that sends a message to members that you’re a chance of winning most weekends.”
Sattler said the biggest thing working against the Dolphins was their lack of lead-in time.
From the day the Titans were granted their licence in May 2005, they had a hit-list that led to the signings of Preston Campbell, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey and Mat Rogers from rugby union before their debut game in 2007.
Digby Ioane was another they got close to adding, and the Titans were so ambitious they attempted to sign Jonah Lomu as a bench forward — only for the latter’s wife, who doubled as his agent, to demand they pay the All Blacks great “phonebook numbers” and ask for a share of gate takings.
“We had a long run-in from May 27, 2005 which I remember because it was the same day Schapelle Corby was found guilty in Bali,” Sattler said.
“I think watching the Giants in ’87, it forced us to take a different angle in recruitment.
“We did everything backwards, which meant that we were talking to clubs about players they couldn’t keep beyond their existing contracts and getting players to sign letters of intent way before we had been granted a licence.
“You’ve got to sell the club before you get the licence.
“It’s arrogant, I know, but I’ve seen it work.”
var request = new XMLHttpRequest();
request.open('POST', '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', true); request.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded;'); request.onload = function () { if (this.status >= 200 && this.status
Soda
Roar Rookie
Missing out on Ponga is a blessing in disguise. Who knows, be could have been great under Bennet but big money should not be given to potential.
matth
Roar Guru
I’d love them to pick up Herbie
Robbin Banks
Guest
Most men Bennett's age are on a pension , so I don't think a mill a year is exactly a world of pain.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
This is the go to story for feeble writers who are out of ideas. They have no idea because they aren't up to speed. The big signing was Wayne Bennett. Maybe the writer can list Bennetts failed teams for us? I note the writer doesn't use his name. No wonder.
Redcap
Roar Guru
They'll be fine. They're an existing club with an existing support base. They'll have an elite spine player/s at some point, either recruited or developed by the club. Canberra didn't have any stars to begin with, but they were premiers in seven years. Cronulla had an ageing Monty Porter and few others of note - they were grand finalists in six years. The Titans recruited really well to begin with and they've been mostly terrible for 15 years now. As I've said elsewhere, Redcliffe might start out in a similar position to the Gold Coast Giants - a decent pack with plenty of experience (the Bromwich boys, Gilbert, Nicholls and Stone) a well-regarded journeyman half (O'Sullivan, TBC), a young spine player out of the Broncos system (Graham) and some young fringe players elsewhere. That's how most expansion teams start. The Giants had nothing like the advantages Redcliffe has.
Larry1950
Guest
Well Adam, hope that’s not what happens. From what I’ve seen in the second tier comp then last week’s game, Martin is the right choice to take that broncos 5/8 spot once they ease him back into NRL footy with a few games at fullback out of that frontline. He’s a runner with a good passing game, not an organiser, and that complements Reynolds style. He’s a better prospect than that stopgap who played last week. It also allows for Billy Walters to own the 14 jersey as a backline cover who can put in 20 minutes as hooker. I’d use Paix to start, Billy just covers more roles from the bench that he’s just slightly not good enough to get as a first choice. You’ve got to hand it to him, he’s wringing every opportunity out of his limited experience & ability, it’s not down to dad.
Adam
Roar Guru
All the speculation so far of the players they'll chase has been driven by the media. Not sure that the Dolphins have had that much interest in the marquee players that have been linked there other than them doing their due diligence and speaking with any half decent player that might be tempted to play elsewhere
Adam
Roar Guru
You know who I'd be looking at? Te Maire Martin. I know that was only one game in the last 3, but if he has a remotely as good a year as I think he could he would be a seriously astute buy for the Dolphins
Randy
Roar Rookie
I know another team that never buys marquee players, the Melbourne Storm. I know a couple of teams that have blown a huge chunk of their caps on marquee players - Knights and Titans. hmmm wonder which of the above teams the Dolphins should model themselves on?
Cam
Roar Rookie
The Dolphins missed their chance to sign a host of players and now the cupboard looks pretty bare with no marquee players left and only a couple of decent names still out there. Reece Walsh, Taylan May, Euan Aitken, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Marty Taupau, Angus Crichton, Ryan Matterson and Herbie Farnworth are worth chasing and they probably need to nail everyone on this shopping list. At the moment they are heading for a train-wreck of an opening season, which will become the status quo if they end up paying ridiculous overs for mediocre players purely to fill out their roster. The Dolphins are betting the farm on securing someone like Cam Munster, who many think will walk purely based on economics. But I think marquee players always have options and they become reluctant to sign on to bottom 4 teams where every week is a grind. I can’t help but think of Addo-Carr last weekend as a cautionary tale, getting towelled-up by the Broncos and then sitting down to watch Coates score 4 tries for the Storm. If he had his time over again, would he take less money to stay with Melbourne? He was offered $400k from Melbourne and took $500k from the Bulldogs. If he misses Origin based on not touching the ball through 10 rounds while standing on the wing for the Dogs, that is $60k down the gurgler.
Larry1950
Guest
Or alternatively, the dolphins have dodged a bullet by not paying 10% or more of their annual salary cap to a (so far) serial underachiever. Ponga, since he exploded on the scene at the cowboys, has largely been all potential & limited output. Even his brilliance in origin was limited to one line break that never resulted in a try. Those talking of him being an integral part of the maroon spine are disrespecting halfback DCE, hookers Grant or Hunt, and 5/8 Munster who have all done far more in their club and representative careers. The other problem they’ve avoided is dealing with his seemingly obnoxious father who was taken down a peg or two in the wash up of the negotiations with the Knights. They would be far better off guaranteeing Herbie Farnworth the fullback spot and $500K - $600K a season, he looks ready made to grow into a key spine role in the next few years ( though as a bronco fan I would hate to lose him). They’ll get a serviceable squad eventually, then Bennett will have to earn his keep.