The Moreton bay council was under the impression it was going to be that name , after they pumped in a couple of million.
I’m happy with the dolphins name and brand. That’s the reason they took the gold coast and the ARL/NRL to court to protect the name all them years ago. The dolphins NRL team has been brilliant for the area people have a real pride in there team. Hope I haven’t gone off topic and ruined the post
G
Gary very, very good post.
I for one am happy they didn't use the Moreton Bay name and found a loophole around the QRL policy not to be called Redcliffe but allow everyone else to say Redcliffe or the Redcliffe based club. If the Broncos, Cowboys & Titans get what they want with QCup than the door opens for Dolphins to add the Redcliffe name to the NRL side.
The original Crushers name was Queensland Crushers but shelved something like 48-hours before the launch due to Broncos complaining about someone claiming the name Queensland odd as they want to claim things to themselves. Since that time Warriors have used the NZ name and I wonder if Dolphins could have called themselves "Queensland" as it would have infuriated Dolphins and allowed them to call themselves Queensland's NRL team - again just a way around not being allowed to use Redcliffe. I do think Dolphins have got their identity right.
The NRL is going back to the future as they add another team to Brisbane. But a quarter of a century ago, the South Queensland Crushers were the first team to try and share territory with the Broncos. This is their story.
www.abc.net.au
I don't live in Redcliffe obviously but visit there several times each time I've gone up I've noticed the support and connection has always got better. When I went to Reddy for the first time after they won the bid in April 2023 after the borders freely opened one thing that struck me was just how Redcliffe the Dolphins NRL team was and I was never going to become a member if I felt they weren't Redcliffe in every sense.
When I was up for my 2022-23 Boxing Day to New Year road trip an annual event for me I visited Redlands, Toowoomba, Glasshouse Mountains and Redcliffe (varying lengths of stays) and I noted at that Dolphins didn't have much reach at the time in Queensland except in the Redcliffe, North Lakes and Brighton areas. But when I returned for the Raiders game in Round 2 where my road trip went through Tweed Heads into Brisbane to Redcliffe back out to Toowoomba and down to Burleigh after the Round 1 win and in some cases after the Round 2 win that all changed Dolphins and Hammer mania was everywhere bar the Courier Mail of course.
What Dolphins have done well is they're different to Broncos. If you want to feel part of a community even if you don't live in that community you do feel connected and it's a down to earth team to support. The Sunday Markets is always a good stroll and so many in Dolphins colours.
Having Brisbane Bombers would have been a failure as they were a poor imitation of the Broncos with zero substance and Easts completely botched up their bid but I still believe Easts should be the 20th side in the NRL even if they find a way to cash in on a possible Wests Tigers divorce buy taking on the 'Tigers' name in SQ or buy the licence to be based in SQ.
I had a look at the 2022 game I attended it wasn't Redcliffe's day losing 42-14 to Wynnum and the Chook Pen where water was a forbidden substance was giving to everyone in a Redcliffe jersey or polo me included LOL. I had a look at the Reddy team that day Fuller was there obviously, Adam Cook who played for Canberra was halfback he left a week later to go to Mackay, Eli Katoa on the bench, Rocco Berry & Vukuanu Vailea in the centres & Taniela Otukolo was also on the bench he played NSW Cup for Bulldogs this year & some NRL with Wahs. Harrison Graham was the no.9 for Wynnum. Max Plath was Wynnum halfback in Colts.
Dolphins winning the NRL licence really resparked by passion back into the game I so want them to do well and happy when they win games.