2025 Squad

[Chris]

Dolphins have the 2nd and 3rd best centres in the game take your pick who's 2nd and 3rd between Hammer and Herbie.

Fuller being out means Hammer more than likely is now the first choice fullback unless Averillo goes there.

I feel centre is Averillo's 3rd most effective position after 5/8 and fullback. Averillo's best games at Canterbury came as a fullback but his time in the halves was destroyed by Barrett who tried to turn a 5/8 into a halfback.

I thought he flopped as a centre this year and his best game was at 5/8.

I know many are fans of Nikorima I'm not a huge wrap on him as a week to week NRL player.

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Niko's best position is an interchange utility. He's probably the best utility in the game. Can fill in at 5/8 but don't think we'll be challenging for the premiership while he is first choice 5/8.

 

[257Matt]

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Niko's best position is an interchange utility. He's probably the best utility in the game. Can fill in at 5/8 but don't think we'll be challenging for the premiership while he is first choice 5/8.

Thanks for agreeing with me on Averillo is a better 5/8 & fullback than centre and that Hammer is a better centre than fullback and a top 3 centre.

Max Plath said in a podcast called The Short Boys that Donoghue is the 2nd best utility after Wishart

 

[257Matt]

Bromwich: The standard have picked up​

Dolphins Forward Kenny Bromwich speaks to media for the first time during pre season.

Bromwich: The standard have picked up

Dolphins Forward Kenny Bromwich speaks to media for the first time during pre season.

www.dolphinsnrl.com.au

 

[Chris]

Thanks for agreeing with me on Averillo is a better 5/8 & fullback than centre and that Hammer is a better centre than fullback and a top 3 centre.

Max Plath said in a podcast called The Short Boys that Donoghue is the 2nd best utility after Wishart

Plath is probably a good mate with Donoghue. In 3 months we will know what Wolff thinks.

 

[mr_c]

Plath is probably a good mate with Donoghue. In 3 months we will know what Wolff thinks.

he lived with him

 

[mr_c]

Thanks for agreeing with me on Averillo is a better 5/8 & fullback than centre and that Hammer is a better centre than fullback and a top 3 centre.

Max Plath said in a podcast called The Short Boys that Donoghue is the 2nd best utility after Wishart

jakes got speed to burn hence why been in centres is not the best play for im his best games came when he was able to use it like any good half when then roll of attack isnt under pressure same with hammer hes in centres for maroons for one reason all the other backs know there rol

( i think you wont see hammer at centre nor will you see trai at fullback junior will come into the centres / wing and jake and him wil swap around )

you got have teams on field that play to phins attacking strengths hence why herbie n jake gel so well jake sets it up for herbie


i woud not mind bettting max is there because his wheels too


i dont really see to much changing
kodi is doing what hes told to do run the ball hes has a kicking game , but good six runs it ( the half is generally the kicker)

 

[Equaliser]

jakes got speed to burn hence why been in centres is not the best play for im his best games came when he was able to use it like any good half when then roll of attack isnt under pressure same with hammer hes in centres for maroons for one reason all the other backs know there rol

( i think you wont see hammer at centre nor will you see trai at fullback junior will come into the centres / wing and jake and him wil swap around )

you got have teams on field that play to phins attacking strengths hence why herbie n jake gel so well jake sets it up for herbie


i woud not mind bettting max is there because his wheels too


i dont really see to much changing
kodi is doing what hes told to do run the ball hes has a kicking game , but good six runs it ( the half is generally the kicker)

Herbie and Jake and all centres are usually on opposite sides. There is really no such thing as a centre combo. Just individual centres. Herbie was the best according to the NRL and I agree. Jake was defensively strong but didn't do much in attack at all. I think his spot might be 5/8 next year.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Herbie and Jake and all centres are usually on opposite sides. There is really no such thing as a centre combo. Just individual centres. Herbie was the best according to the NRL and I agree. Jake was defensively strong but didn't do much in attack at all. I think his spot might be 5/8 next year.

I think that was the upside of getting Jake. I thought we got him to be 5/8th. His speed is great in that position. I think if we were to get a player, like the young fella from the storm, hammer goes to center and Jake to 5/8th, with an eye on a gun 5/8th to marquee partner Katoa.

I know we have Fuller, but his injury at 28, he might not come back as explosive.

 

[Dolph]

I think that was the upside of getting Jake. I thought we got him to be 5/8th. His speed is great in that position. I think if we were to get a player, like the young fella from the storm, hammer goes to center and Jake to 5/8th, with an eye on a gun 5/8th to marquee partner Katoa.

I know we have Fuller, but his injury at 28, he might not come back as explosive.

I'm not sure what Wolff has in mind but in my opinion with a full off season training at 5/8, Averillo 5/8 and Katoa 1/2 will be a very formidable combo.

 

[257Matt]

I'm not sure what Wolff has in mind but in my opinion with a full off season training at 5/8, Averillo 5/8 and Katoa 1/2 will be a very formidable combo.

I would love to see Averillo at 6 and the centre position go to Bostock with Tupou on the wing.

James Walsh could be a bolter for centre if he has a cracking off-season and shakes off the injuries.

All except for one person in here acknowledges Woolf will look to regenerate the side.

What do people think of LJ Nonu?

 

[Chris]

I would love to see Averillo at 6 and the centre position go to Bostock with Tupou on the wing.

James Walsh could be a bolter for centre if he has a cracking off-season and shakes off the injuries.

All except for one person in here acknowledges Woolf will look to regenerate the side.

What do people think of LJ Nonu?

I think Bostock and Tupou the other way around. But agree Averillo 5/8 and Tupou and Bostock both in the team.

 

[257Matt]

I think Bostock and Tupou the other way around. But agree Averillo 5/8 and Tupou and Bostock both in the team.

Agree but Tupou only ever named at centre for one game and didn't play there.

 

[Chris]

Agree but Tupou only ever named at centre for one game and didn't play there.

Bostock has been playing too well on the wing to move.

 

[257Matt]

Bostock has been playing too well on the wing to move.

Yes he's also a very capable centre. Bostock is still fragile under the high ball.

What do people think of James Walsh and LJ Nonu?

Nonu deal right at this minute doesn't allow him to play until Round 11 but if he shines in the trials he can win the remaining development spot or top 30 spot.

Walsh season never got going due to injuries he was still highly thought of by Woolf to be added to top 30.

 

[Dolph]

Yes he's also a very capable centre. Bostock is still fragile under the high ball.

What do people think of James Walsh and LJ Nonu?

Nonu deal right at this minute doesn't allow him to play until Round 11 but if he shines in the trials he can win the remaining development spot or top 30 spot.

Walsh season never got going due to injuries he was still highly thought of by Woolf to be added to top 30.

Bostock apparently played all his junior league at centre. But I can't see him being moved away from the wing next season.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Isaako and Bostock will start the season with Tupou as competition.

It’s a fantastic situation to be in. As for development to be effective, there needs to be the push that comes from competition for positions.

Also, I watched Bostock at the Dragons. And this was his break out season. The reason the dragons let him go was because he wasnt spectacular there. I wouldn’t be moving him into the hardest most technical defensive position on the park, irrespective of junior football. Jason Ryles was a halfback at junior level from memory.

He has just come off a fantastic season on the wing, leave him there, and tell them to compete. Why stunt his progression by moving him around.

 

[257Matt]

Isaako and Bostock will start the season with Tupou as competition.

It’s a fantastic situation to be in. As for development to be effective, there needs to be the push that comes from competition for positions.

Also, I watched Bostock at the Dragons. And this was his break out season. The reason the dragons let him go was because he wasnt spectacular there. I wouldn’t be moving him into the hardest most technical defensive position on the park, irrespective of junior football. Jason Ryles was a halfback at junior level from memory.

He has just come off a fantastic season on the wing, leave him there, and tell them to compete. Why stunt his progression by moving him around.

Lets see what Woolf has in mind for the future. I reckon Dolphins are a chance for that 5/8 from Dragons now Atkinson has signed for 2026.

It was great to see Lachlan Hubner debut for the Dolphins this year and shows value in the Capras system. He was one of those players who doesn't see the light of day if it wasn't for the 17th team being Dolphins in association with a partnership with the Capras. I like Lachlan heaps on a personal level and he's grabbed his chance to earn an NRL contract but his opening came after seemingly being ignored by 16 other NRL clubs and Dolphins never got around to offering him anything more than two train & trial deals.

Trai Fuller for too long has been too good for Queensland Cup and he's a real success story of never ever giving up. Trai won't give up on his comeback trail from his latest setback he's too mentally strong these days. But again he's been one of those sitting in QCup for too many years. Trai is my favourite player in today's NRL. Whilst he's come through the Redcliffe system like Hubner a beneficiary of 17 teams and the 17th team being Dolphins with the Redcliffe heartland. Once some things got cleared he got the Top 30 deal.

For the Dolphins development to be really successful and push through for the long-term they really need players like LJ Nonu, James Walsh, Michael Waqa, Ryan Jackson, etc to really make the grade over the next 12 months and in the years following see players like Tevita Naufahu, Elijah Rasmussen, Zac Garton and Charlie Dickson emerge.

Dolphins aren't going to land a marquee chip bar Flegler and even still Flegler signed on the dotted line before his career best season. So they need to develop their own or discover them just before their breakout seasons like they done with Hammer and Herbie.

 

[Equaliser]

Lets see what Woolf has in mind for the future. I reckon Dolphins are a chance for that 5/8 from Dragons now Atkinson has signed for 2026.

It was great to see Lachlan Hubner debut for the Dolphins this year and shows value in the Capras system. He was one of those players who doesn't see the light of day if it wasn't for the 17th team being Dolphins in association with a partnership with the Capras. I like Lachlan heaps on a personal level and he's grabbed his chance to earn an NRL contract but his opening came after seemingly being ignored by 16 other NRL clubs and Dolphins never got around to offering him anything more than two train & trial deals.

Trai Fuller for too long has been too good for Queensland Cup and he's a real success story of never ever giving up. Trai won't give up on his comeback trail from his latest setback he's too mentally strong these days. But again he's been one of those sitting in QCup for too many years. Trai is my favourite player in today's NRL. Whilst he's come through the Redcliffe system like Hubner a beneficiary of 17 teams and the 17th team being Dolphins with the Redcliffe heartland. Once some things got cleared he got the Top 30 deal.

For the Dolphins development to be really successful and push through for the long-term they really need players like LJ Nonu, James Walsh, Michael Waqa, Ryan Jackson, etc to really make the grade over the next 12 months and in the years following see players like Tevita Naufahu, Elijah Rasmussen, Zac Garton and Charlie Dickson emerge.

Dolphins aren't going to land a marquee chip bar Flegler and even still Flegler signed on the dotted line before his career best season. So they need to develop their own or discover them just before their breakout seasons like they done with Hammer and Herbie.

TBH, I'm glad we held onto Keeley rather than Hubner. Seems too small for a prop. He might get smashed if he plays first grade at Souths.