2024 squad and best 17

[Chris]

The Dolphins​

Dolphins 2024 Player Movements​

2024 Gains Jake Averillo (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2026), Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos, 2026), Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos, 2027), Oryn Keeley (Newcastle Knights, 2026)

2024 Losses Herman Ese'ese (Hull FC), Oliver Gildart (Hull Kingston Rovers)

Re-Signed Tom Gilbert (2028), Connelly Lemuelu (2025), Jeremy Marshall-King (2025), Tesi Niu (2024), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2027)

Off Contract 2023 JJ Collins, Kurt Donoghoe, Poasa Faamausili, Michael Roberts

The following is correct as of October 5.

Full squad​

Euan Aitken, Jake Averillo, Jack Bostock, Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Herbie Farnworth, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Harrison Graham, Jamayne Isaako, Robert Jennings, Isaiya Katoa, Felise Kaufusi, Oryn Keeley, Josh Kerr, Edrick Lee, Connelly Lemuelu, Jeremy Marshall-King, Anthony Milford, Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima, Tesi Niu, Sean O'Sullivan, Max Plath, Ray Stone, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valynce Te Whare, Mason Teague, Jarrod Wallace

Best 17 and full squad​

1. Herbie Farnworth
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Euan Aitken
5. Tesi Niu
6. Isaiya Katoa
7. Sean O'Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Tom Gilbert
    
    
14. Anthony Milford
15. Connelly Lemuelu
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Mark Nicholls
    
    
18. Jake Averillo
19. Jack Bostock
20. Harrison Graham
21. Robert Jennings
22. Josh Kerr
23. Mason Teague
24. Edrick Lee
25. Ray Stone
26. Kodi Nikorima
27. Max Plath
28. Valynce Te Whare
29. Oryn Keeley
30. No player signed

---

• Without doubt Averillo or Te Whare will be in the centres before Aitken. I think Aitken will be in the bench as a utility in case a back is injured.
• I think Herbie will be in the centres and Hammer at fullback.
• Hopefully Niu has a fight on his hands to keep Bostock out.
• Lemuelu will be in the backrow and Kenny an intercahnge middle forward.
• I hope #29 is good enough to force out Nicholls.
• If that is our best 1/2 and 5/8 combo, won't make the finals next season.

 

[Dolph]

The Dolphins​

Dolphins 2024 Player Movements​

2024 Gains Jake Averillo (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2026), Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos, 2026), Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos, 2027), Oryn Keeley (Newcastle Knights, 2026)

2024 Losses Herman Ese'ese (Hull FC), Oliver Gildart (Hull Kingston Rovers)

Re-Signed Tom Gilbert (2028), Connelly Lemuelu (2025), Jeremy Marshall-King (2025), Tesi Niu (2024), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2027)

Off Contract 2023 JJ Collins, Kurt Donoghoe, Poasa Faamausili, Michael Roberts

The following is correct as of October 5.

Full squad​

Euan Aitken, Jake Averillo, Jack Bostock, Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Herbie Farnworth, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Harrison Graham, Jamayne Isaako, Robert Jennings, Isaiya Katoa, Felise Kaufusi, Oryn Keeley, Josh Kerr, Edrick Lee, Connelly Lemuelu, Jeremy Marshall-King, Anthony Milford, Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima, Tesi Niu, Sean O'Sullivan, Max Plath, Ray Stone, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valynce Te Whare, Mason Teague, Jarrod Wallace

Best 17 and full squad​

1. Herbie Farnworth
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Euan Aitken
5. Tesi Niu
6. Isaiya Katoa
7. Sean O'Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Tom Gilbert
    
    
14. Anthony Milford
15. Connelly Lemuelu
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Mark Nicholls
    
    
18. Jake Averillo
19. Jack Bostock
20. Harrison Graham
21. Robert Jennings
22. Josh Kerr
23. Mason Teague
24. Edrick Lee
25. Ray Stone
26. Kodi Nikorima
27. Max Plath
28. Valynce Te Whare
29. Oryn Keeley
30. No player signed

---

• Without doubt Averillo or Te Whare will be in the centres before Aitken. I think Aitken will be in the bench as a utility in case a back is injured.
• I think Herbie will be in the centres and Hammer at fullback.
• Hopefully Niu has a fight on his hands to keep Bostock out.
• Lemuelu will be in the backrow and Kenny an intercahnge middle forward.
• I hope #29 is good enough to force out Nicholls.
• If that is our best 1/2 and 5/8 combo, won't make the finals next season.

As for the halves. the way Wayne went all out for Jack Wighton suggests he isn't happy with that combo or replacing one with Milf or Kodi.

 

[Equaliser]

The Dolphins​

Dolphins 2024 Player Movements​

2024 Gains Jake Averillo (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2026), Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos, 2026), Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos, 2027), Oryn Keeley (Newcastle Knights, 2026)

2024 Losses Herman Ese'ese (Hull FC), Oliver Gildart (Hull Kingston Rovers)

Re-Signed Tom Gilbert (2028), Connelly Lemuelu (2025), Jeremy Marshall-King (2025), Tesi Niu (2024), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2027)

Off Contract 2023 JJ Collins, Kurt Donoghoe, Poasa Faamausili, Michael Roberts

The following is correct as of October 5.

Full squad​

Euan Aitken, Jake Averillo, Jack Bostock, Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Herbie Farnworth, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Harrison Graham, Jamayne Isaako, Robert Jennings, Isaiya Katoa, Felise Kaufusi, Oryn Keeley, Josh Kerr, Edrick Lee, Connelly Lemuelu, Jeremy Marshall-King, Anthony Milford, Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima, Tesi Niu, Sean O'Sullivan, Max Plath, Ray Stone, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valynce Te Whare, Mason Teague, Jarrod Wallace

Best 17 and full squad​

1. Herbie Farnworth
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Euan Aitken
5. Tesi Niu
6. Isaiya Katoa
7. Sean O'Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Tom Gilbert
    
    
14. Anthony Milford
15. Connelly Lemuelu
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Mark Nicholls
    
    
18. Jake Averillo
19. Jack Bostock
20. Harrison Graham
21. Robert Jennings
22. Josh Kerr
23. Mason Teague
24. Edrick Lee
25. Ray Stone
26. Kodi Nikorima
27. Max Plath
28. Valynce Te Whare
29. Oryn Keeley
30. No player signed

---

• Without doubt Averillo or Te Whare will be in the centres before Aitken. I think Aitken will be in the bench as a utility in case a back is injured.
• I think Herbie will be in the centres and Hammer at fullback.
• Hopefully Niu has a fight on his hands to keep Bostock out.
• Lemuelu will be in the backrow and Kenny an intercahnge middle forward.
• I hope #29 is good enough to force out Nicholls.
• If that is our best 1/2 and 5/8 combo, won't make the finals next season.

SOS is a good fill in halfback but not suitable for first choice halfback.

 

[mr_c]

couple things i see
sos will b ok hes just needs to get better help katoa, who is still learning and puts himself under a lot of pressure
herbies here for fullback and jake and hammer be centres i highly doubt , val will get starting gig

lots of young bucks, coming through which interest me .

 

[Equaliser]

lots of young bucks, coming through which interest me .

Who are you main picks?

 

[Chris]

couple things i see
sos will b ok hes just needs to get better help katoa, who is still learning and puts himself under a lot of pressure
herbies here for fullback and jake and hammer be centres i highly doubt , val will get starting gig

lots of young bucks, coming through which interest me .

Disagree about SOS. He's already played for a few clubs not able to nail down a regular start.

 

[Dolph]

Disagree about SOS. He's already played for a few clubs not able to nail down a regular start.

SOS did start last season well but after his injury, came back well below first grade standard. But so did a lot of them after Gilbert and JMK went down.

 

[Blockade]

Amongst the current squad, my lineup would look like this. Keep in mind, I do think the roster will change a bit with Milf, Aitken, Edrick and Jennings all rumoured to be moving on.

1 Hammer
2 Isaako
3 Herbie
4 Val
5 Nui
6 Katoa
7 KNik
8 Flegler
9 JMK
10 J Bromwich
11 Kaufusi
12 Lemuelu
13 Gilbert

14 JWal
15 Stone
16 Teague
17 Nicholls

Definitely not a team that will trouble the top sides but maybe they can push for a playoff spot.

 

[Jetty]

Amongst the current squad, my lineup would look like this. Keep in mind, I do think the roster will change a bit with Milf, Aitken, Edrick and Jennings all rumoured to be moving on.

1 Hammer
2 Isaako
3 Herbie
4 Val
5 Nui
6 Katoa
7 KNik
8 Flegler
9 JMK
10 J Bromwich
11 Kaufusi
12 Lemuelu
13 Gilbert

14 JWal
15 Stone
16 Teague
17 Nicholls

Definitely not a team that will trouble the top sides but maybe they can push for a playoff spot.

Surely if Niko is in the starting 13 it'll be as a 5/8 with Katoa at 1/2. Also I think Kenny Bromwich might beat Nicholls for a spot on the bench.

 

[Equaliser]

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Herbie Farnworth
4. Valynce Te Whare
5. Tesi Niu
6. Jake Averillo
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Connelly Lemuelu
13. Tom Gilbert
    
    
14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Kenneath Bromwich
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Euan Aitken
    
    
18. Ray Stone

 

[mr_c]

Who are you main picks?

Disagree about SOS. He's already played for a few clubs not able to nail down a regular start.

bit hard to nail down spots in experienced sides


dont see atikin and milf leaving

 

[Equaliser]

bit hard to nail down spots in experienced sides


dont see atikin and milf leaving

Seems no one really wants them. Surprised Milf can't get something in the ESL. Aitken has family concerns probably preventing him going to England.

 

[mr_c]

Seems no one really wants them. Surprised Milf can't get something in the ESL. Aitken has family concerns probably preventing him going to England.

to be honest i dont see anyone replacing either of them atikin covers both backs n forwards and dont see anyone in our system replacing him


plath katoa are too in experienced to leave with sos

 

[Red]

to be honest i dont see anyone replacing either of them atikin covers both backs n forwards and dont see anyone in our system replacing him


plath katoa are too in experienced to leave with sos

I was surprised to hear they were shopping Aitken around. I think he was far from our worst last season and as you said about covering forwards and backs. Well worth having on the bench.

 

[Equaliser]

to be honest i dont see anyone replacing either of them atikin covers both backs n forwards and dont see anyone in our system replacing him


plath katoa are too in experienced to leave with sos

I don't think there any way SOS will keep Katoa out next season. They might be half and 5/8. I hope not. They are both natural halfbacks.

 

[Red]

HERBIE FARNWORTH — BRONCOS TO DOLPHINS​

Farnworth cemented himself as one of the NRL’s best centres in 2023. His performances this season only proved to make his switch to the Dolphins an even bigger blow for the Broncos, being named in the Dally M Team of the Year. The English international snubbed an extension to remain in Red Hill, instead opting to take up a lucrative contract to play under Wayne Bennett. Farnworth has made no secret of his desires to try his hand at fullback in the future, but faces stiff competition for the No.1 jersey in Redcliffe. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who admittedly is another gun centre, is likely the Dolphins’ long term fullback. Meanwhile, Bulldogs gun Jake Averillo is also a proven option in the position. Bennett bases his backline on defence, and both Averillo and Farnworth are strong defensively. Meanwhile, Tabuai-Fidow’s positional awareness developed immensely in 2023, meaning he is a strong chance of getting the nod in the No.1. A centre partnership of Farnworth and Averillo could prove to be very dangerous for the Dolphins, while Euan Aitken is also a strong option and is contracted until the end of 2024. Aitken’s inclusion could see Averillo move to the wing, while Farnworth is almost a certainty to start in the backline on the left-hand side.

---

I wonder if Wayne is considering the best centre combination in the competition with Herbie and Hammer? Averillo fullback.
I hope Bostock or someone else is ready to put a lot of pressure on Niu for a spot on the wing.
That will still leave the problem of the halves. Is Katoa going to kick on? If so, who is going to play 5/8? But other than that, a very strong team.

 

[Jetty]

HERBIE FARNWORTH — BRONCOS TO DOLPHINS​

Farnworth cemented himself as one of the NRL’s best centres in 2023. His performances this season only proved to make his switch to the Dolphins an even bigger blow for the Broncos, being named in the Dally M Team of the Year. The English international snubbed an extension to remain in Red Hill, instead opting to take up a lucrative contract to play under Wayne Bennett. Farnworth has made no secret of his desires to try his hand at fullback in the future, but faces stiff competition for the No.1 jersey in Redcliffe. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who admittedly is another gun centre, is likely the Dolphins’ long term fullback. Meanwhile, Bulldogs gun Jake Averillo is also a proven option in the position. Bennett bases his backline on defence, and both Averillo and Farnworth are strong defensively. Meanwhile, Tabuai-Fidow’s positional awareness developed immensely in 2023, meaning he is a strong chance of getting the nod in the No.1. A centre partnership of Farnworth and Averillo could prove to be very dangerous for the Dolphins, while Euan Aitken is also a strong option and is contracted until the end of 2024. Aitken’s inclusion could see Averillo move to the wing, while Farnworth is almost a certainty to start in the backline on the left-hand side.

---

I wonder if Wayne is considering the best centre combination in the competition with Herbie and Hammer? Averillo fullback.
I hope Bostock or someone else is ready to put a lot of pressure on Niu for a spot on the wing.
That will still leave the problem of the halves. Is Katoa going to kick on? If so, who is going to play 5/8? But other than that, a very strong team.

I'd bet that is the plan. You know Wayne loves his ball-playing fullbacks. Averillo used to be a 5/8.

 

[Equaliser]

Who goes up, who stays down in 2024 from the bottom 9?​

DOLPHINS​

How it came to this
They might be on this list but it was a solid first season for the Dolphins in the NRL. They produced the moment of the season with a win in round 1 and followed it up with three straight wins to start the year, but injuries took their toll and they struggled as they dropped out of the top eight at the midway point.

Although they were scraping together a team at the end, they did the club proud and ‘Phins up’ became a big endorsement for successful expansion.

Reason for hope
The revival of Jamayne Isaako from a reserve grader to top tryscorer was one of the shining lights of the season, as well as the emergence of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as a star of the game. Key recruits in Broncos grand final stars Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler will help take the Dolphins to another level as they begin to build a future.

Key issues
In 2024 they’ll deal with the realities of the NRL.

A group of experienced players are signed on short-term deals and the development of young players will be paramount to success now and in the future. It will be Wayne Bennett’s last season in charge too, with assistant Kristian Wolfe to take over as head coach from 2025.

 

[Jetty]

Lemuelu out of Samoa team due to a knee injury. Going for further scans but "should be" ok for pre season training......

 

[Red]

Every NRL club’s ‘24 breakout star​

DOLPHINS - HARRISON GRAHAM​

Harrison Graham is currently on a development contract which expires at the end of 2025 but still did enough to earn six NRL caps in the Dolphins’ debut campaign. The young dummy-half looks to be a potential utility player off the bench, deputising for Jeremy Marshall-King in 2024 who battled with a shoulder injury to close out the season. The 22-year-old was impressive in his short stint to close out the season, but does face some stiff competition for the No.14 jersey next season in Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa. One of those two could miss out on the starting side with the inclusion of Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo in the squad, meaning Graham may be in a battle to be named on the bench. Regardless, Bennett has a ready-made hooker option waiting in the wings and 2024 could be Graham’s best season yet.

---

Really???? I was pretty unimpressed from what I saw of him. I thought he fell behind Plaff as the second choice hooker.