Best 17 in 2026

[Gary]

He was outstanding in the wins against Cowboys & Warriors, the whole team dropped its bundle against Roosters & Manly without Herbie not just Keeley and the Broncos game had some great individual efforts namely Fuller. His minutes in those 3 games were down on his previous weeks if he was playing through injury we don't know and he played well in the final two games. Keeley played 16 games starting 14 in 2025 prior to this year he played 8 NRL games across 3 seasons. He more than likely won't be in the round 1 final 17 but once he gets his opportunity and it'll come as the same 17 won't play every game he'll make it hard to be relegated.

I like the kid , but you could see it was too much exposure he was tired/ injured whatever you want to call it . It takes a player 50 first grade games to finally feel secure and ready for the week to week intensity. Another season of 10-14 appearances in 2026 will see him ready to start in 2027 if he keeps progressing. Some players stall or regress so who knows.

 

[257Matt]

I like the kid , but you could see it was too much exposure he was tired/ injured whatever you want to call it . It takes a player 50 first grade games to finally feel secure and ready for the week to week intensity. Another season of 10-14 appearances in 2026 will see him ready to start in 2027 if he keeps progressing. Some players stall or regress so who knows.

Something I'm very confident will happen unless Perth sneak under Dolphins guard to get him.

 

[mr_c]

He was outstanding in the wins against Cowboys & Warriors, the whole team dropped its bundle against Roosters & Manly without Herbie not just Keeley and the Broncos game had some great individual efforts namely Fuller. His minutes in those 3 games were down on his previous weeks if he was playing through injury we don't know and he played well in the final two games. Keeley played 16 games starting 14 in 2025 prior to this year he played 8 NRL games across 3 seasons. He more than likely won't be in the round 1 final 17 but once he gets his opportunity and it'll come as the same 17 won't play every game he'll make it hard to be relegated.

so two good games make him outstandinf , lol can tell your a podcaster that don't give a shit about this club

 

[Red]

I like the kid , but you could see it was too much exposure he was tired/ injured whatever you want to call it . It takes a player 50 first grade games to finally feel secure and ready for the week to week intensity. Another season of 10-14 appearances in 2026 will see him ready to start in 2027 if he keeps progressing. Some players stall or regress so who knows.

I like him too. He showed in the first half of the season he belongs in the NRL. But there times in the second half of the season where I started having doubts. He really seemed to go missing. His game against the Broncos was insipid and I think he followed it up against the Roosters. Or might have been the other way around. I think we are going to need him next year so this can't be repeated. I don't expect him to play well every week. Everyone has a bad game from time to time. But he had too many bad games in the second half of the season.

 

[Equaliser]

I like him too. He showed in the first half of the season he belongs in the NRL. But there times in the second half of the season where I started having doubts. He really seemed to go missing. His game against the Broncos was insipid and I think he followed it up against the Roosters. Or might have been the other way around. I think we are going to need him next year so this can't be repeated. I don't expect him to play well every week. Everyone has a bad game from time to time. But he had too many bad games in the second half of the season.

Backrow is one of the few positions we aren't stacked in. There are 3 but Lemuelu typically doesn't play 80min. I wonder of Knowles can play on an edge.

 

[257Matt]

I like him too. He showed in the first half of the season he belongs in the NRL. But there times in the second half of the season where I started having doubts. He really seemed to go missing. His game against the Broncos was insipid and I think he followed it up against the Roosters. Or might have been the other way around. I think we are going to need him next year so this can't be repeated. I don't expect him to play well every week. Everyone has a bad game from time to time. But he had too many bad games in the second half of the season.

Red & Gary at least you two are reasonable in Keeley assessments and don't blindly hate Keeley.

Fair assessments I wonder how much of the Farnworth injury destroyed the last bit of confidence they had along with the team & club as a whole being very under prepared & out of touch in the opening four rounds. It seems to me it had big wear down impact on so many players including Keeley as he was immense in the weeks before Herbie's injury and was one of the Dolphins best in the win when Herbie got hurt he was sharing that right second-row centre edge with Tawha.

Keeley had no pre-season due to surgery following the State Championship Final and than had to carry so much of the load in the forward pack when those around him dropped like flies. In the last four rounds the best player for Dolphins in 3 of those games (Broncos, Titans & Raiders) was Fuller who able to be eased back after injury.

Something Woolf needs to address in himself and his staff is that Dolphins started the year very slow, very lethargic and so off the pace and same happened with Tonga in the recent Pacific Cup there wasn't a chance of recovery for them and Dolphins were always playing catch up against the odds. It's remarkable that it took Herbie's injury to cost them a semis spot.

Souths Round 1 is the Dolphins big chance to make it count and begin the season from the front foot.

 

[Gary]

Red & Gary at least you two are reasonable in Keeley assessments and don't blindly hate Keeley.

Fair assessments I wonder how much of the Farnworth injury destroyed the last bit of confidence they had along with the team & club as a whole being very under prepared & out of touch in the opening four rounds. It seems to me it had big wear down impact on so many players including Keeley as he was immense in the weeks before Herbie's injury and was one of the Dolphins best in the win when Herbie got hurt he was sharing that right second-row centre edge with Tawha.

Keeley had no pre-season due to surgery following the State Championship Final and than had to carry so much of the load in the forward pack when those around him dropped like flies. In the last four rounds the best player for Dolphins in 3 of those games (Broncos, Titans & Raiders) was Fuller who able to be eased back after injury.

Something Woolf needs to address in himself and his staff is that Dolphins started the year very slow, very lethargic and so off the pace and same happened with Tonga in the recent Pacific Cup there wasn't a chance of recovery for them and Dolphins were always playing catch up against the odds. It's remarkable that it took Herbie's injury to cost them a semis spot.

Souths Round 1 is the Dolphins big chance to make it count and begin the season from the front foot.

They started slow due to the heavy loads of training in pre season a lot of clubs do it and get away with it. Once they tweaked the training away they went and looked fantastic. Will be interesting to see where they are at the start of next season .

 

[Equaliser]

Red & Gary at least you two are reasonable in Keeley assessments and don't blindly hate Keeley.

Fair assessments I wonder how much of the Farnworth injury destroyed the last bit of confidence they had along with the team & club as a whole being very under prepared & out of touch in the opening four rounds. It seems to me it had big wear down impact on so many players including Keeley as he was immense in the weeks before Herbie's injury and was one of the Dolphins best in the win when Herbie got hurt he was sharing that right second-row centre edge with Tawha.

Keeley had no pre-season due to surgery following the State Championship Final and than had to carry so much of the load in the forward pack when those around him dropped like flies. In the last four rounds the best player for Dolphins in 3 of those games (Broncos, Titans & Raiders) was Fuller who able to be eased back after injury.

Something Woolf needs to address in himself and his staff is that Dolphins started the year very slow, very lethargic and so off the pace and same happened with Tonga in the recent Pacific Cup there wasn't a chance of recovery for them and Dolphins were always playing catch up against the odds. It's remarkable that it took Herbie's injury to cost them a semis spot.

Souths Round 1 is the Dolphins big chance to make it count and begin the season from the front foot.

Who "blindly hates Keeley"?

 

[257Matt]

They started slow due to the heavy loads of training in pre season a lot of clubs do it and get away with it. Once they tweaked the training away they went and looked fantastic. Will be interesting to see where they are at the start of next season .

It's the challenge for Woolf and his staff to get right as it happened to both Dolphins and Tonga this year starting where they looked under prepared, slow, lethargic, off the pace and unfit in many ways. If they can nail the start of the season, get the fitness perfectly balanced and get their rehab/recovery/injury management spot on the mark it will be exciting and fantastic. Dolphins do play a wonderful brand of football when it's all clicking along nicely.

Souths Round 1 and Magic Round need to nail those 2 games both Round 1 and Magic Round last year weren't up for the fight in either.

 

[Red]

Red & Gary at least you two are reasonable in Keeley assessments and don't blindly hate Keeley.

Fair assessments I wonder how much of the Farnworth injury destroyed the last bit of confidence they had along with the team & club as a whole being very under prepared & out of touch in the opening four rounds. It seems to me it had big wear down impact on so many players including Keeley as he was immense in the weeks before Herbie's injury and was one of the Dolphins best in the win when Herbie got hurt he was sharing that right second-row centre edge with Tawha.

Keeley had no pre-season due to surgery following the State Championship Final and than had to carry so much of the load in the forward pack when those around him dropped like flies. In the last four rounds the best player for Dolphins in 3 of those games (Broncos, Titans & Raiders) was Fuller who able to be eased back after injury.

Something Woolf needs to address in himself and his staff is that Dolphins started the year very slow, very lethargic and so off the pace and same happened with Tonga in the recent Pacific Cup there wasn't a chance of recovery for them and Dolphins were always playing catch up against the odds. It's remarkable that it took Herbie's injury to cost them a semis spot.

Souths Round 1 is the Dolphins big chance to make it count and begin the season from the front foot.

I don't think criticism = blind hate.

Even mr_c had a lot of people offside with his criticism of Katoa but I never considered it "blind hate". He just rated SOS.

 

[257Matt]

I don't think criticism = blind hate.

Even mr_c had a lot of people offside with his criticism of Katoa but I never considered it "blind hate". He just rated SOS.

Now SOS is the Bulldogs problem

 

[Josh]

Now SOS is the Bulldogs problem

SOS was a makeshift option and place holder for Katoa. He did well for us given his natural ability.

 

[257Matt]

SOS was a makeshift option and place holder for Katoa. He did well for us given his natural ability.

SOS went really well with Penrith in 2022 and Dolphins did find the market tough hence only being able to sign 26 players to the Top 30 before promoting Graham (Dev), Bostock (Dev) and Donoghoe (TNT) to Top 30 just to get the 29 before Round 1. At the time I was happy with the SOS signing and a place holder for Katoa as you said Josh very correct. Milford's lazy attitude of course fast tracked Izzy into the team.

SOS is now a topic on another page.

On players from another club joining Dolphins I was so happy when they signed JMK and Averillo as I was in the minority when it came to Bulldogs fans who supported both players they were despised on the whole by Bulldogs fans who were happy to see them leave. I rate both players and glad I could still support them via the club who I've supported in the QCup for well over 25-years.

 

[Equaliser]

SOS went really well with Penrith in 2022 and Dolphins did find the market tough hence only being able to sign 26 players to the Top 30 before promoting Graham (Dev), Bostock (Dev) and Donoghoe (TNT) to Top 30 just to get the 29 before Round 1. At the time I was happy with the SOS signing and a place holder for Katoa as you said Josh very correct. Milford's lazy attitude of course fast tracked Izzy into the team.

SOS is now a topic on another page.

On players from another club joining Dolphins I was so happy when they signed JMK and Averillo as I was in the minority when it came to Bulldogs fans who supported both players they were despised on the whole by Bulldogs fans who were happy to see them leave. I rate both players and glad I could still support them via the club who I've supported in the QCup for well over 25-years.

Dolphins couldn't get any big names. Not even Brandon Smith. A couple of years later we'd offer him maybe 40% of what we did then.

Anyway, SOS was only ever a reserve grader. Wayne squeezed a few good games out of him.

 

[mr_c]

like wayne said its how we finish a season, that counts , and thats was what woolf was saying don't really care if we have slow start especailly if we go through the injury motions and loose momentum