Official: Redcliffe Dolphins to join NRL in 2023

[roofromoz]

Great to see at a time where QLD rugba leeg is absolutely prospering

What odds for the Dolphins to win their first match v Broncos?

 

[T-Boon]

Hopefully they instantly become every Broncos haters first/second team. They do mine.

 

[t-ba]

And we can have a Q Clash - any time Broncos, Titans, Cowboys and Dolphins play.

I can't abide by that. Too AFL a term.

Almost as bad as "flag"

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I can't abide by that. Too AFL a term.

Almost as bad as "flag"

Or ‘behind’.

 

[ayatollah_murdoch]

Dolphins vs Sharks or Manly can be the ‘sons of beaches’ round.

And we can have a Q Clash - any time Broncos, Titans, Cowboys and Dolphins play.

A lot of beaches in the NRL - Bondi, Gold Coast, Sharks, Manly. The only difference is these beaches don't bleed once a month, they bleed once a year (annual reporting season).

 

[AlwaysGreen]

So it begins...

 

[yobbo84]

Are they really just going to be known as "The Dolphins"? That's awful

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Dolphins be ‘goodbye Porpoise Spit…hellloooo Brisbane!!!”

 

[azza29]

I don't think sticking with the Redcliffe name would do them any damage to be honest. Creates another point of difference with the Broncos rather than simply being Brisbane #2, certainly doesn't seem to have hurt Fremantle or Port Adelaide's support bases in the AFL (always thought GWS might have done better as the Blacktown or Parramatta Giants as well).

 

[some11]

Such a missed opportunity imo.
This team won't bring any new fans to the game, preaching to the choir.

Perth or South Island NZ would have grown the game.

Adds an actual Brisbane rivalry which is sorely needed.

 

[some11]

Will be interesting to see how they do. Had the Crushers never been kicked out they could realistically have had Cam Smith, Thurston and Cronk playing for them. Will they actually be able to compete long term or will they be another Titans once the new team novelty wears off.

For starters, the dolphins have an actual grassroots presence.

 

[some11]

Concerningly there has been allegations that of the three bids the dolphins are the one News ltd wanted. Make of that what you will.

They're going to bankroll the strongest club to take on the Broncos. Some real competition in the area is a good thing.

 

[roofromoz]

Get your gifs ready for the game day threads

 

[some11]

Are they really just going to be known as "The Dolphins"? That's awful

Just because you aren't familiar with Queensland rugby league doesn't mean you have to stick your nose up at it. The phins have been around since 1947.

 

[Canard]

Are they really just going to be known as "The Dolphins"? That's awful

They clearly are waiting for the club to make the formal announcement of their name, and the only thing that's seems to be certain is that it won't be Redcliffe.

 

[t-ba]

Just because you aren't familiar with Queensland rugby league doesn't mean you have to stick your nose up at it. The phins have been around since 1947.

From what I can see it's more a worry that they won't have a geographic identifier.

Which I think is a fair critique.

I don't think clubs need big geographic regions to be successful. Everton, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston (Villa) are all places that are part of a bigger place after all and seem to have no problems drawing fans from their cities. In the case of Villa they're actually bigger than the club called 'Birmingham'

I think Redcliffe would be fine but I guess they don't.

 

[Valheru]

What type of following do we expect the new team to get? I know bugger all about QLD demographics so is there some big pool of fans in Brisbane that hate the Broncos and will jump on board or is this more a case that whatever fans they get are currently Broncos fans who feel more of a kinship for the Redcliffe region like when Western Sydney entered the A-League?

 

[Canard]

From what I can see it's more a worry that they won't have a geographic identifier.

Which I think is a fair critique.

I don't think clubs need big geographic regions to be successful. Everton, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston (Villa) are all places that are part of a bigger place after all and seem to have no problems drawing fans from their cities. In the case of Villa they're actually bigger than the club called 'Birmingham'

I think Redcliffe would be fine but I guess they don't.

I don't think for a second they will be known just as "The Dolphins", it appears to be me that they are just giving the team/club a chance to announce their "new name" later. (this arvo?)

 

[blaza88z]

Bronco fans will most likely support both, doesn't really expand the game at all

If they wanted to leave their mark on Brisbane then they needed to make this a team out at Ipswich or something, they are moving in next door to one of the richest brands in Australian sport. Wayne will probably coach them to early success but there after, that will be the challenge.

Could be Titans v2.0, quite easily actually

 

[GAZF]

Bronco fans will most likely support both, doesn't really expand the game at all

They're probably banking on increased fan engagement from existing fans as a starting off point. Qld derbies should increase from 6 to 12 a year.