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As part of a daily series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2023, it’s time to see how the Dolphins are shaping up for their grand entry into the competition.
After so many strike-outs trying to land a marquee signing, the Dolphins now have to put that to one side and concentrate on the players they have on their roster.
Unless there’s a dramatic turn of events between now and March 5 when they run onto Suncorp Stadium to tackle the Roosters, coach Wayne Bennett will have to apply his coaching magic to a solid but not spectacular squad to make them competitive.
They will be able to fill a decent 17-man line-up when their entire squad is available but their depth is razor thin so if injuries strike, Bennett could be faced with throwing a few players on the park who struggled to see regular NRL game time at their previous clubs.
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With five of their first eight matches at home, the Dolphins could not have asked for a better introduction into the big league but whether they’re playing at Suncorp or Redcliffe, home-ground advantage can only help so much.
Wayne Bennett will be the first coach of the Dolphins. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
In a word, everyone. There has been criticism of the recruitment strategy that too many veterans have been brought in but it will take time for the club to bring players through their junior pathways and the short lead-in time of little more than a year meant that most of the best young prospects in South-East Queensland were already tied to the Broncos or Titans.
The spine is capable with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s arrival from the Cowboys giving them a speedy fullback, Sean O’Sullivan has bounced around a few clubs but was more than capable at Penrith last year when he filled in, hooker Jeremy Marshall-King has been one of the NRL’s most improved players in recent years while the only question mark is on five-eighth Anthony Milford.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
He had an unhappy exit from Brisbane and didn’t set the world on fire during a short stint at Newcastle last year. Bennett does have former Panthers prodigy Isaiya Katoa waiting in the wings so he could be pitched into a playmaking role sooner than expected.
The pack is full of experienced hard-heads who don’t like losing, such as captain Jesse Bromwich, his brother Kenny and their Storm comrade Felise Kaufusi.
Cowboys forward Tom Gilbert is the kind of player they can build their pack around long term and the Maroons rookie is likely to slot in at lock for their historic first match.
Round 1 predicted team
1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2 Edrick Lee
3 Brenko Lee
4 Euan Aitken
5 Jamayne Isaako
6 Anthony Milford
7 Sean O’Sullivan
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Mark Nicholls
11 Felise Kaufusi
12 Kenny Bromwich
13 Tom Gilbert
Interchange
14 Kodi Nikorima
15 Ray Stone
16 Jarrod Wallace
17 Poasa Faamausili
Other squad members: Robert Jennings, Connelly Lemuelu, Isaiya Katoa, JJ Collins, Mason Teague, Oliver Gildart, Valynce Te Whare, Herman Ese’ese
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