Recruitment and retention

[Josh]

Much like Dale Finucane before him and more recently Eli Katoa & Shaun Blore went from discards at other clubs to thriving at the Storm.

Shaun Blore hasn't hit any great heights. But the other 2 did.

 

[257Matt]

Shaun Blore hasn't hit any great heights. But the other 2 did.

I saw Finucane's ability at Canterbury before he played first grade and I had a disagreement with a director of the time about releasing him & not keeping Ennis. The club didn't rate him and look what happened. Same here with Keeley.

 

[257Matt]

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[Gary]

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Unfortunately you can’t keep them all due to salary cap there’s always someone willing to offer a better deal

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Unfortunately you can’t keep them all due to salary cap there’s always someone willing to offer a better deal

You can if youre cheating. Not only do you keep them all, you sign more, and you fuck the unwanted in the ass and push them elsewhere.

Then you do media interviews about salary caps and say nothing to see here!

 

[mr_c]

You can if youre cheating. Not only do you keep them all, you sign more, and you fuck the unwanted in the ass and push them elsewhere.

Then you do media interviews about salary caps and say nothing to see here!

and claim they players deals with sponsors

 

[Josh]

You can if youre cheating. Not only do you keep them all, you sign more, and you fuck the unwanted in the ass and push them elsewhere.

Then you do media interviews about salary caps and say nothing to see here!

I thought backrow is one area we were a bit short in. So many locks and props but not backrowers. Woolf might be impressed with a few of the young backrowers progressing through the grades.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I thought backrow is one area we were a bit short in. So many locks and props but not backrowers. Woolf might be impressed with a few of the young backrowers progressing through the grades.

Best and cheapest way to do it. I'm sure will be all over it.

 

[yonathonjoung]

I thought backrow is one area we were a bit short in. So many locks and props but not backrowers. Woolf might be impressed with a few of the young backrowers progressing through the grades.

Here's hoping.

On that note I wanted to ask about Morgan Knowles. He played lock in the ashes tests, but looking at him and what we need I just have a gut feeling he's got the size and shape to be a good middle forward, bench or starting prop, as long as he has the fitness.

And yeah it seems backrow is a bit middling right now, but knowles doesn't strike me as a backrower in anything but a pinch. Also we talk about how we have Gilbert, plath, donoghoe, and now Knowles who all can play lock but hardly anyone mentions ray stone and how he started lock a few times in 2025. He was playing hard, as he always does, with two crook shoulders carrying the ball down low and making tackles low to not bust his shoulders completely. Definitely are set for locks.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Here's hoping.

On that note I wanted to ask about Morgan Knowles. He played lock in the ashes tests, but looking at him and what we need I just have a gut feeling he's got the size and shape to be a good middle forward, bench or starting prop, as long as he has the fitness.

And yeah it seems backrow is a bit middling right now, but knowles doesn't strike me as a backrower in anything but a pinch. Also we talk about how we have Gilbert, plath, donoghoe, and now Knowles who all can play lock but hardly anyone mentions ray stone and how he started lock a few times in 2025. He was playing hard, as he always does, with two crook shoulders carrying the ball down low and making tackles low to not bust his shoulders completely. Definitely are set for locks.

Ray Stone is my favourite player.

Glad you mentioned him. He is still young, much to the surprise of others.

I think his strength is he complements the modern day flashy backrower, by being a middle forward that loves the hard work that most edge forwards dont want to do.

Working hand in hand he is great.

 

[yonathonjoung]

Ray Stone is my favourite player.

Glad you mentioned him. He is still young, much to the surprise of others.

I think his strength is he complements the modern day flashy backrower, by being a middle forward that loves the hard work that most edge forwards dont want to do.

Working hand in hand he is great.

He's great. If you want a player like Ray Stone then there is only one Ray Stone.

I think be started lock for the 44 over 14 wet night win over the dogs, with donga at hooker, and Harrison Graham on the bench.

 

[Equaliser]

Here's hoping.

On that note I wanted to ask about Morgan Knowles. He played lock in the ashes tests, but looking at him and what we need I just have a gut feeling he's got the size and shape to be a good middle forward, bench or starting prop, as long as he has the fitness.

And yeah it seems backrow is a bit middling right now, but knowles doesn't strike me as a backrower in anything but a pinch. Also we talk about how we have Gilbert, plath, donoghoe, and now Knowles who all can play lock but hardly anyone mentions ray stone and how he started lock a few times in 2025. He was playing hard, as he always does, with two crook shoulders carrying the ball down low and making tackles low to not bust his shoulders completely. Definitely are set for locks.

Signing Knowles has been a mystery around here for a while. No doubt he's a good player but he is supposed to be a good lock. That is to go with:

• Donoghue
• Plath
• Gilbert
• Stone

I'm looking forward to seeing what Woolf has planned but I noticed on the Dolphins webpage Gilbert is listed as a prop.

 

[yonathonjoung]

Signing Knowles has been a mystery around here for a while. No doubt he's a good player but he is supposed to be a good lock. That is to go with:

• Donoghue
• Plath
• Gilbert
• Stone

I'm looking forward to seeing what Woolf has planned but I noticed on the Dolphins webpage Gilbert is listed as a prop.

There you go. That goes with my feeling of prop. Probably just the way he looks. And since he's not young and we seem to like more dynamic locks it makes sense that as he gets older he just goes to prop and stays there as a tough nut.

 

[mr_c]

Signing Knowles has been a mystery around here for a while. No doubt he's a good player but he is supposed to be a good lock. That is to go with:

• Donoghue
• Plath
• Gilbert
• Stone

I'm looking forward to seeing what Woolf has planned but I noticed on the Dolphins webpage Gilbert is listed as a prop.

yes can play prop ( did in junior days n one or two games in nrl)

but belive he be starting lock if knowles aint and ( not sure what they will do with plath think hes limited on where he can play ) likes fuis n few other can play prop they tried path at hooker and didnt work guess we see but i think hes one on choping block

 

[257Matt]

Signing Knowles has been a mystery around here for a while. No doubt he's a good player but he is supposed to be a good lock. That is to go with:

• Donoghue
• Plath
• Gilbert
• Stone

I'm looking forward to seeing what Woolf has planned but I noticed on the Dolphins webpage Gilbert is listed as a prop.

I pay no attention to Dolphins profiles page their website LOL they have Rasmussen listed as a winger turning 27 next year when he played prop in the U20 NRLQ Series this year and they have Pouniu who's just turned 18 listed as part of the coaches they have O'Sullivan, Feagai and Walsh still listed.

 

[257Matt]

There you go. That goes with my feeling of prop. Probably just the way he looks. And since he's not young and we seem to like more dynamic locks it makes sense that as he gets older he just goes to prop and stays there as a tough nut.

A lot has changed since Gilbert last played a strong quality game at NRL level and when he played 13 in 2023 it was because they had two quality second rowers and needed to fit Gilbert in that mix. He was playing second row for NQ when he came under the notice of QLD selectors for his debut off the bench in 2022. Now the second row position at Dolphins isn't as strong as lock and the lock position has evolved again the Dolphins playing a more dynamic style of football.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

He's great. If you want a player like Ray Stone then there is only one Ray Stone.

I think be started lock for the 44 over 14 wet night win over the dogs, with donga at hooker, and Harrison Graham on the bench.

He did, and we fucking bashed their powder puff forward pack, led by Stone. I think the Dogs didn't recover from that mauling, and is one reason they went on to choke in relation to winning the comp. Obviously Gould masterminded defeat from the jaws of victory last season, however that game i think started the rot for their forwards.

 

[yonathonjoung]

He did, and we fucking bashed their powder puff forward pack, led by Stone. I think the Dogs didn't recover from that mauling, and is one reason they went on to choke in relation to winning the comp. Obviously Gould masterminded defeat from the jaws of victory last season, however that game i think started the rot for their forwards.

Was a ripper game for us. I knew we had it when isaako smoked a conversion from the sideline in that pouring rain like nothing. Whole team was firing that night.

 

[Gary]

Here's hoping.

On that note I wanted to ask about Morgan Knowles. He played lock in the ashes tests, but looking at him and what we need I just have a gut feeling he's got the size and shape to be a good middle forward, bench or starting prop, as long as he has the fitness.

And yeah it seems backrow is a bit middling right now, but knowles doesn't strike me as a backrower in anything but a pinch. Also we talk about how we have Gilbert, plath, donoghoe, and now Knowles who all can play lock but hardly anyone mentions ray stone and how he started lock a few times in 2025. He was playing hard, as he always does, with two crook shoulders carrying the ball down low and making tackles low to not bust his shoulders completely. Definitely are set for locks.

Ray stone would be a certain starter in anyone’s 17 . Tough player

 

[Equaliser]

A lot has changed since Gilbert last played a strong quality game at NRL level and when he played 13 in 2023 it was because they had two quality second rowers and needed to fit Gilbert in that mix. He was playing second row for NQ when he came under the notice of QLD selectors for his debut off the bench in 2022. Now the second row position at Dolphins isn't as strong as lock and the lock position has evolved again the Dolphins playing a more dynamic style of football.

You think Gilbert is going to play second row? That will go down even worse than Plath at second row did.