2025 Squad

[257Matt]

Even in the "heartland", where I live but not where I'm from, so many people are supporting the Dolphins and negative on the Donkeys. I haven't loked at the draw yet but if we are traveling well and they are struggling when we meet this year, and we beat them again, alarm bells are going to be ringing at Red Hill. Suddenly players who "go somewhere to win a premiership" are going to be coming to the Dolphins rather than Donkeys.

If Woolf can smash through the so called Bennett curse Dolphins will become a destination club like Tonga became the destination nation

 

[mr_c]

Have a watch of the Bloke in the Bar preview of the Dolphins it's an absolute bagathon of them

lol why would he have anything nice to say lol when hes a bronco ex player n sponsors them

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

If Woolf can smash through the so called Bennett curse Dolphins will become a destination club like Tonga became the destination nation

There is no Bennett curse.

Bennett did what made him a successful coach at previous clubs. He poached all their good players once he left. Dragons gf team is a great example.

He hasn’t done that to the Dolphins. He took Aitken. However, it was his time to go I think.

He also left clubs worse off, because his remit was to win rather then build for the future. Here he has built a foundation, rather than sucked blood out of a stone for a premiership. Here this wasn't the case. As his remit was to set us up, rather then get over the line.

I’ll wager, whilst there will be an affect because Bennett is a master mentor, the affect won’t be as great because the work he has done was different to all his other clubs.

 

[257Matt]

There is no Bennett curse.

Bennett did what made him a successful coach at previous clubs. He poached all their good players once he left. Dragons gf team is a great example.

He hasn’t done that to the Dolphins. He took Aitken. However, it was his time to go I think.

He also left clubs worse off, because his remit was to win rather then build for the future. Here he has built a foundation, rather than sucked blood out of a stone for a premiership. Here this wasn't the case. As his remit was to set us up, rather then get over the line.

I’ll wager, whilst there will be an affect because Bennett is a master mentor, the affect won’t be as great because the work he has done was different to all his other clubs.

Love your post.

I think Dolphins will have teething issues in 2025 it won't be due to the coach it will only be due to the squad regenerating from the original aging forward pack to a new generation of players. It's very clear Jackson, Waqa and Rasmussen are all very young talented props and even more clearer they're still a massive work in progress. They also take up 3 spots in the Top 36. There were 4 17-year-olds that played on Saturday they're still 3-4 years away from playing NRL.

What people really forget is that Bennett tried to take JMK and he flicked Cook full well expecting JMK.

From all reports both JMK and now Averillo appear really settled into Brisbane life. Averillo struggled with the adjustment of moving away from home for the first time last year.

 

[mr_c]

Love your post.

I think Dolphins will have teething issues in 2025 it won't be due to the coach it will only be due to the squad regenerating from the original aging forward pack to a new generation of players. It's very clear Jackson, Waqa and Rasmussen are all very young talented props and even more clearer they're still a massive work in progress. They also take up 3 spots in the Top 36. There were 4 17-year-olds that played on Saturday they're still 3-4 years away from playing NRL.

What people really forget is that Bennett tried to take JMK and he flicked Cook full well expecting JMK.

From all reports both JMK and now Averillo appear really settled into Brisbane life. Averillo struggled with the adjustment of moving away from home for the first time last year.

lol Offs umm bunnies n bennett never tried to steal him he tested he market and jmk said he got offers from more than one club so there goes your stealing theory out the window

 

[Chris]

There is no Bennett curse.

Bennett did what made him a successful coach at previous clubs. He poached all their good players once he left. Dragons gf team is a great example.

He hasn’t done that to the Dolphins. He took Aitken. However, it was his time to go I think.

He also left clubs worse off, because his remit was to win rather then build for the future. Here he has built a foundation, rather than sucked blood out of a stone for a premiership. Here this wasn't the case. As his remit was to set us up, rather then get over the line.

I’ll wager, whilst there will be an affect because Bennett is a master mentor, the affect won’t be as great because the work he has done was different to all his other clubs.

💯

 

[Equaliser]

There is no Bennett curse.

Bennett did what made him a successful coach at previous clubs. He poached all their good players once he left. Dragons gf team is a great example.

He hasn’t done that to the Dolphins. He took Aitken. However, it was his time to go I think.

He also left clubs worse off, because his remit was to win rather then build for the future. Here he has built a foundation, rather than sucked blood out of a stone for a premiership. Here this wasn't the case. As his remit was to set us up, rather then get over the line.

I’ll wager, whilst there will be an affect because Bennett is a master mentor, the affect won’t be as great because the work he has done was different to all his other clubs.

Aitken would have been good to keep but only for this year, possibly next year. I think Souths were willing to offer him 3 years.

Wayne left Broncos in a bit of a mess. Darius Boyd was barely NRL standard when Waybe extended him for 3 years on big money. Then there was the unfortunate episode of Milf's for dropping off a cliff. The lack of a halfback and etc. He went big into the backended deals at Newcastle. Not sure what happened at St. George.

 

[257Matt]

Aitken would have been good to keep but only for this year, possibly next year. I think Souths were willing to offer him 3 years.

Wayne left Broncos in a bit of a mess. Darius Boyd was barely NRL standard when Waybe extended him for 3 years on big money. Then there was the unfortunate episode of Milf's for dropping off a cliff. The lack of a halfback and etc. He went big into the backended deals at Newcastle. Not sure what happened at St. George.

Many St George players had contracts aligned with Bennett's contract so when he announced he was leaving by the time June 30 came (the old date back then) he took Boyd, Scott and others with him and Price wasn't up to coaching.

Newcastle had many more external and internal issues than Bennett leaving the place was on its knees. Bennett activated a clause in his contract to leave the Knights which was all based around the Nathan Tinkler ownership. Tinkler destroyed that club much more than Bennett did and Newcastle made Rick Stone coach as he was the coach before Bennett and Tinkler.

The second Broncos stint he was looking for quick success and gave a few players crazy deals knowing he was out the door.

Aitken was a solid to good player but it's clear the club needs to regenerate the age of the forward pack.

There's only four players left at Dolphins who are on original contracts being Bromwich, Graham, Kaufusi and O'Sullivan and they all expire end of this year.

The fact Katoa and JMK didn't go to the open market and locked themselves in before November 1 says a lot of good about Woolf and this is something ignored.

 

[257Matt]

Newcastle's record post Joey's retirement in 2007 is very ordinary they've won only 3 finals games two of them under Bennett in 2013 and one controversially against Canberra in 2023.

 

[AmericanDolphin]

I saw the latter part of last season the fight in this squad and I expect that to continue this season. Us being favorites for the spoon tbh I pretty laughable. Call me crazy but if our younger guys click and Woolf is as good as I hope he can be, we can make top 8.

I like being the underdog personally.

 

[257Matt]

I saw the latter part of last season the fight in this squad and I expect that to continue this season. Us being favorites for the spoon tbh I pretty laughable. Call me crazy but if our younger guys click and Woolf is as good as I hope he can be, we can make top 8.

I like being the underdog personally.

Woolf is paying the media price for failed coaches before him that's not his fault. The negativity about him is crazy.

 

[257Matt]

https://www.moretondaily.com.au/news/feagai-embraces-new-dolphins-challenge

Dolphins NRL newcomer Max Feagai is looking forward to his first hit-out in a new jersey when he plays for the club in a Pre-Season Challenge game on Friday night.

The game, against the Cowboys in Cairns (7pm), will be his first opportunity to make a case for a spot in the top side.

The Dolphins are expected to rest most of their NRL stars for the clash, with the exception of Jake Averillo, Sean O’Sullivan, Junior Tupou, Mason Teague and Harrison Graham. Assistant Coach Nathan Fien will take the reins.

Feagai, who made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2020 and had a breakout season in 2024, has signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins but knows breaking into the club’s NRL side will be a challenge.

The 23-year-old, who can play centre or winger, says part of the lure to Redcliffe was the opportunity to play with a star-studded spine and backline.

CLICK ON LINK FOR FULL ARTICLE

 

[mr_c]

one thing i notice bar harrison even in the cup side 30 there dont seem to be many hooker propositions for depth ( as in full time hookers not makeshift ) wonder if thats where we be looking at in future dont see harrision in the top side nor plath full time hooker n hate to see kodi go down too

 

[257Matt]

Donga has played 22 games for Capras started in 20 in the two games off the interchange played 59 and 48 respectively he's a walk up for Capras when available

 

[257Matt]

November 2024

Kurt Donoghoe keeps busy ahead of another Dolphins preseason - NBN News

Lake Macquarie's Kurt Donoghoe is a NRL player on the rise, and he'll again act as the Dolphins' 'Mr

www.nbnnews.com.au

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

On Max Feagai.

When I was in Sydney, I knew someone connected with the low grades at the Dragons.

The wraps on the Feagai twins were huge. And at that level they were good.

However, watching them go into first grade, that next level they needed hasn’t come. Whilst, I agree he is still young, he needs to show he has another level this year. If he doesn’t, he will be a Q cup player at best.

The question is does he have that next level? It’s my opinion, and an armchair level opinion, I don’t think he does. He has made the move, said the right things, it’s now time to produce on the field, which didn’t happen at the Dragons.

 

[257Matt]

On Max Feagai.

When I was in Sydney, I knew someone connected with the low grades at the Dragons.

The wraps on the Feagai twins were huge. And at that level they were good.

However, watching them go into first grade, that next level they needed hasn’t come. Whilst, I agree he is still young, he needs to show he has another level this year. If he doesn’t, he will be a Q cup player at best.

The question is does he have that next level? It’s my opinion, and an armchair level opinion, I don’t think he does. He has made the move, said the right things, it’s now time to produce on the field, which didn’t happen at the Dragons.

He has to blast the door down to get into the side. He's probably first cab off the rank in backups especially with Fuller not around for the first half of the year and players like Nonu and Naufahu both still developing. The outside back depth with Fuller injured and Averillo transitioning to another position probably is a tad thin as players develop. It's always good for long term salary cap health to develop rather than buy wingers & centres.

 

[Josh]

He has to blast the door down to get into the side. He's probably first cab off the rank in backups especially with Fuller not around for the first half of the year and players like Nonu and Naufahu both still developing. The outside back depth with Fuller injured and Averillo transitioning to another position probably is a tad thin as players develop. It's always good for long term salary cap health to develop rather than buy wingers & centres.

Don't forget about Tupou. Bostock and Isaako wingers. Herbie and Averillo centres. Kodi 5/8. If that's what Woolf goes with, Tupou is first to be included due to injury, suspension or just bad form.

 

[mr_c]

He has to blast the door down to get into the side. He's probably first cab off the rank in backups especially with Fuller not around for the first half of the year and players like Nonu and Naufahu both still developing. The outside back depth with Fuller injured and Averillo transitioning to another position probably is a tad thin as players develop. It's always good for long term salary cap health to develop rather than buy wingers & centres.

theres no way woolf is that stupid to play him in the backs in nrl got max conney n kodi before him as well hes well down the order in any position another that will

 

[257Matt]

Don't forget about Tupou. Bostock and Isaako wingers. Herbie and Averillo centres. Kodi 5/8. If that's what Woolf goes with, Tupou is first to be included due to injury, suspension or just bad form.

Tupou will be in the round 1 team I never forgot him