2026 Squad

[Red]

2025 DEPARTING DOLPHINS ​

• Sean O’Sullivan
• Kenny Bromwich (retired)
• Josh Kerr (Dragons)
• Harrison Graham (unknown)
• Mark Nicholls (retired)
• Michael Waqa (Broncos)
• Ryan Jackson (unknown)
• Aublix Tawha (Broncos*)
• Peter Hola (Knights)

Players who come on the open market from November 1​

• Brad Schneider (no needed)
• Connelly Lemuelu (re-sign ASAP)
• Francis Molo (will probably retire or get one more year in the ESL)
• Herbie Farnworth (Of course re-sign)
• Jake Averillo (I'm a fan but where is his best position?)
• Jamayne Isaako (Not sure)
• James Walsh (I think re-sign)
• Kodi Nikorima (might be the same as Molo)
• Max Feagai (Not fussed either way. Ok as a depth)
• Oryn Keeley (had a pretty bad second half of the season. Wait and see)
• Ray Stone (still only 28! I thought he was older. Not sure)
• Trai Fuller (undecided)
• Selwyn Cobbo (undecided but he'll almost certainly go to Perth regardless)

A lot of forwards departing! I knew we had a lot out but I thought Jackson would get promoted to the top 30.

 

[mr_c]

Did thry actually mention Jackson as going?

 

[Dolph]

Did thry actually mention Jackson as going?

Yes. Just not known where. He might not have any offers.

 

[257Matt]

Harrison Graham has been confirmed by Newcastle

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

That clean out is great. Freeing up space for extensions. And maybe a few upgrades.

Wish them all the best at their new clubs. However, we need to be looking at better.

 

[257Matt]

Did thry actually mention Jackson as going?

Yes Jackson confirmed as not being retained

 

[257Matt]

Dolphins officially confirmed 8 departures last night.

Bromwich, Nicholls, O'Sullivan (not happy dogs signed him), Kerr, Graham, Tawha, Hola and Jackson.

All we know officially so far is that Nonu and Rasmussen have been promoted to the Top 30, Naufahu was already in the 30 as confirmed by the club mid-season and signed Cobbo, Schneider and Knowles.

The club is yet to confirm what type of deal Symonds is on but he's been retained by Dolphins he was on Development in 2025.

 

[257Matt]

Betting markets out with Sportsbet Blockade

Dolphins equal 10th favourites with Cowbys and Eels.

They’ve already defined a clear cut top four with Brisbane, Melbourne, Penrith and Roosters. Bulldogs are 5th and Canberra & Cronulla a few notches back in 6th and 7th.

They have Warriors and wait for it Souths battling it out for 8th spot.

 

[Equaliser]

Betting markets out with Sportsbet Blockade

Dolphins equal 10th favourites with Cowbys and Eels.

They’ve already defined a clear cut top four with Brisbane, Melbourne, Penrith and Roosters. Bulldogs are 5th and Canberra & Cronulla a few notches back in 6th and 7th.

They have Warriors and wait for it Souths battling it out for 8th spot.

That will change a lot by round 6. I think Penrith and Melbourne are slipping. Why are the Roosters ranked so highly?

 

[257Matt]

That will change a lot by round 6. I think Penrith and Melbourne are slipping. Why are the Roosters ranked so highly?

Equaliser Blockade I just checked TAB they have top 5 exactly the same order as Sportsbet $1 separating Roosters and Bulldogs. They’ve got Sharks ahead of Raiders in 6-7 spots.

They have Souths and Dolphins as equal 8th favourites just ahead of Eels.

Sportsbet have Newcastle followed by Gold Coast as spoon favourites TAB have Dragons as spoon favourites next in line Newcastle and Gold Coast.

 

[mr_c]

Equaliser Blockade I just checked TAB they have top 5 exactly the same order as Sportsbet $1 separating Roosters and Bulldogs. They’ve got Sharks ahead of Raiders in 6-7 spots.

They have Souths and Dolphins as equal 8th favourites just ahead of Eels.

Sportsbet have Newcastle followed by Gold Coast as spoon favourites TAB have Dragons as spoon favourites next in line Newcastle and Gold Coast.

lol wouldnt read to much about top 4 long as your in top 8 by finals its shows you can come frim anywhere we be in the 8 be all on draw

 

[257Matt]

lol wouldnt read to much about top 4 long as your in top 8 by finals its shows you can come frim anywhere we be in the 8 be all on draw

Actually only one team has ever won the premiership from outside the top 4 since the top 8 format first started in 1995 and used every year except 1997 split comps and 1998 they had a top 10 still a top 4 side won. It’s an undefeated stat of the NRL era along with 50pts conceded. Top 8 means is a pass mark season but to actually hold the trophy Top 4 is everything now.

 

[mr_c]

Actually only one team has ever won the premiership from outside the top 4 since the top 8 format first started in 1995 and used every year except 1997 split comps and 1998 they had a top 10 still a top 4 side won. It’s an undefeated stat of the NRL era along with 50pts conceded. Top 8 means is a pass mark season but to actually hold the trophy Top 4 is everything now.

i no the stats but , more and more we seeing the lower top 8 teams have big impact more n more our squad is building nicely n woolf got confidence in all his 30 and we will just grow n grow just outta the top 8 with stack loads missing is huge

 

[257Matt]

i no the stats but , more and more we seeing the lower top 8 teams have big impact more n more our squad is building nicely n woolf got confidence in all his 30 and we will just grow n grow just outta the top 8 with stack loads missing is huge

Actually it's getting wider and wider. The last time a side outside the Top 4 make a Grand Final was North Queensland in 2017 and before that Canterbury in 2014.

Teams outside Top 4 to make GF

NO CROSS OVER TOP 8 1995 (2 pools of 2/3/6/7 & 1/4/5/8 - no week 3 cross over)
1995 - Canterbury 6th (won)

TOP 10 1999 (effectively 2 Top 5's with a cross over pool)
1998 - Canterbury 9th

MCINTYRE TOP 8 1999-2011
1999 - St George Illawarra 6th
2005 - North Queensland 5th
2009 - Parramatta 8th
2010 - Roosters 6th
2011 - Warriors 6th

CURRENT TOP 8 FORMAT (has cross over pool) 1996 & 2012-2025
1996 - St George 7th
2014 - Canterbury 7th
2017 - North Queensland 8th

We saw 5 teams outside Top 4 make the grand final in the 12 seasons of the McIntyre system than current Top 8 format that's been in place for the last 14 seasons just 2 sides have made the grand final.

The only winner outside the Top 4 since Top 8 was introduced happened in 1995 with Canterbury getting up. That format used in 1995 didn't have the cross over in week 3 meaning if you lost in week 1 and won in week 2 you play the side you played in week 1 again in week 3. It never happened because in 1995 Brisbane/Cronulla went out the finals backdoor.

There was a difference in 1996 with week 2 semis compared to what we see now. It was loser 2v3 (Brisbane 1996) playing winner 5v8 (Cronulla 1996) and loser 1v4 (Roosters 1996) playing winner 6v7 (St George 1996) what we've seen since 2012 is loser 2v3 (Canterbury 2025) v winner 6v7 (Penrith 2025) and loser 1v4 (Canberra 2025) v winner 5v8 (Cronulla 2025).

This was the first year since Parramatta/Roosters in 2020 that two Top 4 sides went out the finals in straight sets.

This was the first year since Melbourne in 2021 where the minor premiers didn't make the Grand Final. This was also the first year since Canterbury in 2012 that the minor premiers weren't Melbourne, Penrith or Roosters.

Also what suited Canterbury in 1995 and St George in 1996 was the venues format. Canterbury played Brisbane 3rd and Canberra 2nd in semi finals at the SFS and St George who came 7th in 1996 got Canberra in week 1 at the SFS. In 1995-96 only one semi-final was played out of Sydney at the SQ Crushers home ground. Brisbane who finished 3rd in 1995 had a semi-final in their home city (not home ground) against Canberra who were 2nd placed.

Canterbury got blessed with the finals draw opening right up for them in 2014 with Manly barely able to field a team in week 2 and Penrith who snuck into 4th in 2014 winning a remarkable week 1 game that put the 2 best sides of 2014 onto the same side of the draw and in 2017 we saw Taumalolo and Morgan play the best 3 weeks of their careers.

So in summary it's now even more important than ever to finish Top 4 as stats are showing it gets harder and harder to make a Grand Final yet alone win one. Top 8 is a pass mark achievement for a club and in Dolphins case qualifying for the first ever time but to actually be there when it matters most it's Top 4.

 

[Chris]

Actually it's getting wider and wider. The last time a side outside the Top 4 make a Grand Final was North Queensland in 2017 and before that Canterbury in 2014.

Teams outside Top 4 to make GF

NO CROSS OVER TOP 8 1995 (2 pools of 2/3/6/7 & 1/4/5/8 - no week 3 cross over)
1995 - Canterbury 6th (won)

TOP 10 1999 (effectively 2 Top 5's with a cross over pool)
1998 - Canterbury 9th

MCINTYRE TOP 8 1999-2011
1999 - St George Illawarra 6th
2005 - North Queensland 5th
2009 - Parramatta 8th
2010 - Roosters 6th
2011 - Warriors 6th

CURRENT TOP 8 FORMAT (has cross over pool) 1996 & 2014-2025
1996 - St George 7th
2014 - Canterbury 7th
2017 - North Queensland 8th

We saw 5 teams outside Top 4 make the grand final in the 12 seasons of the McIntyre system than current Top 8 format that's been in place for the last 14 seasons just 2 sides have made the grand final.

The only winner outside the Top 4 since Top 8 was introduced happened in 1995 with Canterbury getting up. That format used in 1995 didn't have the cross over in week 3 meaning if you lost in week 1 and won in week 2 you play the side you played in week 1 again in week 3. It never happened because in 1995 Brisbane/Cronulla went out the finals backdoor.

There was a difference in 1996 with week 2 semis compared to what we see now. It was loser 2v3 (Brisbane 1996) playing winner 5v8 (Cronulla 1996) and loser 1v4 (Roosters 1996) playing winner 6v7 (St George 1996) what we've seen since 2012 is loser 2v3 (Canterbury 2025) v winner 6v7 (Penrith 2025) and loser 1v4 (Canberra 2025) v winner 5v8 (Cronulla 2025).

This was the first year since Parramatta/Roosters in 2020 that two Top 4 sides went out the finals in straight sets.

This was the first year since Melbourne in 2021 where the minor premiers didn't make the Grand Final. This was also the first year since Canterbury in 2012 that the minor premiers weren't Melbourne, Penrith or Roosters.

Also what suited Canterbury in 1995 and St George in 1996 was the venues format. Canterbury played Brisbane 3rd and Canberra 2nd in semi finals at the SFS and St George who came 7th in 1996 got Canberra in week 1 at the SFS. In 1995-96 only one semi-final was played out of Sydney at the SQ Crushers home ground. Brisbane who finished 3rd in 1995 had a semi-final in their home city (not home ground) against Canberra who were 2nd placed.

Canterbury got blessed with the finals draw opening right up for them in 2014 with Manly barely able to field a team in week 2 and Penrith who snuck into 4th in 2014 winning a remarkable week 1 game that put the 2 best sides of 2014 onto the same side of the draw and in 2017 we saw Taumalolo and Morgan play the best 3 weeks of their careers.

So in summary it's now even more important than ever to finish Top 4 as stats are showing it gets harder and harder to make a Grand Final yet alone win one. Top 8 is a pass mark achievement for a club and in Dolphins case qualifying for the first ever time but to actually be there when it matters most it's Top 4.

Does that count the year Canterbury were disqualified?

 

[257Matt]

Does that count the year Canterbury were disqualified?

Canterbury had their points stripped 2002 before the semi finals commenced.

 

[Equaliser]

Actually it's getting wider and wider. The last time a side outside the Top 4 make a Grand Final was North Queensland in 2017 and before that Canterbury in 2014.

Teams outside Top 4 to make GF

NO CROSS OVER TOP 8 1995 (2 pools of 2/3/6/7 & 1/4/5/8 - no week 3 cross over)
1995 - Canterbury 6th (won)

TOP 10 1999 (effectively 2 Top 5's with a cross over pool)
1998 - Canterbury 9th

MCINTYRE TOP 8 1999-2011
1999 - St George Illawarra 6th
2005 - North Queensland 5th
2009 - Parramatta 8th
2010 - Roosters 6th
2011 - Warriors 6th

CURRENT TOP 8 FORMAT (has cross over pool) 1996 & 2012-2025
1996 - St George 7th
2014 - Canterbury 7th
2017 - North Queensland 8th

We saw 5 teams outside Top 4 make the grand final in the 12 seasons of the McIntyre system than current Top 8 format that's been in place for the last 14 seasons just 2 sides have made the grand final.

The only winner outside the Top 4 since Top 8 was introduced happened in 1995 with Canterbury getting up. That format used in 1995 didn't have the cross over in week 3 meaning if you lost in week 1 and won in week 2 you play the side you played in week 1 again in week 3. It never happened because in 1995 Brisbane/Cronulla went out the finals backdoor.

There was a difference in 1996 with week 2 semis compared to what we see now. It was loser 2v3 (Brisbane 1996) playing winner 5v8 (Cronulla 1996) and loser 1v4 (Roosters 1996) playing winner 6v7 (St George 1996) what we've seen since 2012 is loser 2v3 (Canterbury 2025) v winner 6v7 (Penrith 2025) and loser 1v4 (Canberra 2025) v winner 5v8 (Cronulla 2025).

This was the first year since Parramatta/Roosters in 2020 that two Top 4 sides went out the finals in straight sets.

This was the first year since Melbourne in 2021 where the minor premiers didn't make the Grand Final. This was also the first year since Canterbury in 2012 that the minor premiers weren't Melbourne, Penrith or Roosters.

Also what suited Canterbury in 1995 and St George in 1996 was the venues format. Canterbury played Brisbane 3rd and Canberra 2nd in semi finals at the SFS and St George who came 7th in 1996 got Canberra in week 1 at the SFS. In 1995-96 only one semi-final was played out of Sydney at the SQ Crushers home ground. Brisbane who finished 3rd in 1995 had a semi-final in their home city (not home ground) against Canberra who were 2nd placed.

Canterbury got blessed with the finals draw opening right up for them in 2014 with Manly barely able to field a team in week 2 and Penrith who snuck into 4th in 2014 winning a remarkable week 1 game that put the 2 best sides of 2014 onto the same side of the draw and in 2017 we saw Taumalolo and Morgan play the best 3 weeks of their careers.

So in summary it's now even more important than ever to finish Top 4 as stats are showing it gets harder and harder to make a Grand Final yet alone win one. Top 8 is a pass mark achievement for a club and in Dolphins case qualifying for the first ever time but to actually be there when it matters most it's Top 4.

Detailed! Where do you get this info from? AI?

 

[mr_c]

Detailed! Where do you get this info from? AI?

lol obviously

 

[257Matt]

Detailed! Where do you get this info from? AI?

I've never used AI.

Rugby League Project website.

 

[257Matt]

Detailed! Where do you get this info from? AI?

As I stated above RLP website and proves my point with very detailed stats that only twice since the current Top 4 format in the last 14 seasons has a side made the Grand Final from spots 5-8 and one side made it in 1996 so 3 out of 15 seasons. When it was McIntyre system a bolter was a chance with 5 times out of 13. McIntyre was done away with after 2011 when Warriors who came 6th lost 40-10 to 3rd place Broncos but because teams 7-8 both lost got another chance and somehow made the GF. In 2009 Saints minor premiers lost week 1 to Jarryd Hayne and all the sudden in week 2 playing an away semi against a side who finished below them. Again all advantage to the top 4.

The other reason it's a must for top 4 as evident by Brisbane and Penrith as case studies Penrith who tried to freshen up by resting against Canterbury before the semis still had to travel to away venues in Auckland and Brisbane. Once Broncos got that win in Canberra largely due to many own goals by Ricky Stuart they were virtually there and V'Landys didn't even hide his script either. Canterbury in 1995 had 3 advantages one of which they were in the GF year before so more seasoned naturally Penrith a seasoned side and Canterbury despite finishing 6th were able to park themselves at the SFS for the finals series and teams came to play them plus it helps having the best player in the game which they had at the time.

For Dolphins or any club to win a premiership they need to finish Top 4.