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Redcliffe Dolphins recruitment targets

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14,822
If dolphins end up whipping boys it’s going to hurt badly hopes for an 18th team soon. There’s a lot riding on their first three years performances! If they are competitive, and even better make the playoffs every year it will put to bed the player depth argument and the nrl can move forward with club 18 introduction in around 2027.

fanbase won’t make an iota of difference to an 18th club decision as long as we arent talking about a third brisbane team for the 18th spot.
We should give The Dolphins the best players from Melbourne to ensure they are successful.

🤣
 
Messages
14,822
Sure, from the perspective of that team and their coach etc but there may be a lot of supporters who just watch their team go around every week.

You are definitely leaving money on the table and potentially viewership.
It will be shit for the fans to not see their team play.
 

Matua

First Grade
Messages
5,112
No surprise at all that SOS looks like going to the Dolphins. He's a first grade half who will only ever be a backup where he is. It was probably his plan all along especially with his Dad being recruitment manager. Convincing the coach would have been the hard part.
Is there another SOS who didn't play for the Warriors? Because that guy would struggle to be a first grade half in the Auckland club competition.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,026
Is there another SOS who didn't play for the Warriors? Because that guy would struggle to be a first grade half in the Auckland club competition.
I wouldn't blame that halfback, for the lack of ability the warriors posses, the fact he is doing well at Penrith shows how inept the warriors were when he was there, and trust me i watch a lot of warriors games, hoping for them to come good, Sean O'Sullivan is a pretty good halfback and a 1st grade player, i can say similar things about Luke Brooks, or Kyle Flanagan but if the rest of your team is not performing and not giving you any time, you can't win games on the back foot
 

Matua

First Grade
Messages
5,112
I wouldn't blame that halfback, for the lack of ability the warriors posses, the fact he is doing well at Penrith shows how inept the warriors were when he was there, and trust me i watch a lot of warriors games, hoping for them to come good, Sean O'Sullivan is a pretty good halfback and a 1st grade player, i can say similar things about Luke Brooks, or Kyle Flanagan but if the rest of your team is not performing and not giving you any time, you can't win games on the back foot
I wasn't. I was assessing him on his individual performance.

If he's playing well for Penrith then all good, I don't watch them, but his displays as a half were terrible for the Warriors, regardless of what was happening with the rest of the team. At times he looked downright uncoordinated.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,026
I wasn't. I was assessing him on his individual performance.

If he's playing well for Penrith then all good, I don't watch them, but his displays as a half were terrible for the Warriors, regardless of what was happening with the rest of the team. At times he looked downright uncoordinated.
Didn't have any issues at Panthers, although we didn't debut him, that was the roosters, another in a long line of rooster debuts
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
Another forward signed. At least he's not in his 30's!

The Dolphins have further bolstered their forward stocks for 2023, adding North Queensland backrower Tom Gilbert for their inaugural season.
Gilbert joins the likes of Mark Nicholls, Felise Kaufusi, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Ray Stone in the engine room, with Titans fullback Jamayne Isaako also locked in.
The 21-year-old has featured in the middle and on the edge since making his debut in 2020, settling in the second row.

 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
Dolphins confirmed so far


1. Isaako
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. J Bromwich
9. Stone
10. Nicholls
11. Kaufusi
12. K Bromwich
13.

14. Gilbert
15.
16.
17.

rest
18. Isaiya Katoa
19. Valynce Te Whare
20. Jack Bostock
21. JJ Collins
22. Ryan Jackson
 
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Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
The GOAT's worried!

NRL legend Cameron Smith believes it is almost time for the Dolphins to hit the “panic button” as they continue to fail to land a marquee recruit.
Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga is the latest big-name player to reject the newest franchise’s advances as the pool for top level talent is becoming smaller and smaller.
The former Storm and Queensland great holds grave concerns for the Dolphins ability to compete in their inaugural season and their marketability.
As each day passes, the season is getting closer for next year and they need a side that needs to be competitive,” Smith said on 1170 SEN Breakfast.
“I’d hate to see a Dolphins team come in next year and be non-competitive all year.
“We are talking about established clubs in the competition that you look at and give them no chance when they turn up on a weekend.
“You’d hate to see an expansion club be in that same situation.
“For their fans, their followers, new members and sponsors, they need to be winning footy games.
“The panic button is pretty close to being pushed.”

 

mongoose

Coach
Messages
11,808
yeah because marquee players is what makes a successful team... how many marquee players have the Storm and Panthers bought in recent seasons? Panthers bought Maloney a few years backs but they started going better after he left lol Tamou is the other closest thing to a marquee they have bought. As for the Storm well they barely even buy established first graders let alone Marquees.

There are quality depth players running around for a lot of clubs if you look hard enough. If they are so desperate to land a "marquee" player then they will just be another Titans who just want quick success rather than build a culture of development.
 

Colk

First Grade
Messages
6,750
yeah because marquee players is what makes a successful team... how many marquee players have the Storm and Panthers bought in recent seasons? Panthers bought Maloney a few years backs but they started going better after he left lol Tamou is the other closest thing to a marquee they have bought. As for the Storm well they barely even buy established first graders let alone Marquees.

There are quality depth players running around for a lot of clubs if you look hard enough. If they are so desperate to land a "marquee" player then they will just be another Titans who just want quick success rather than build a culture of development.

I think you need a combination of a marquee and juniors etc. If they get Munster and some more blokes like Gilbert they will be fine. I’m interested to see who they sign as backs
 

mongoose

Coach
Messages
11,808
I think you need a combination of a marquee and juniors etc. If they get Munster and some more blokes like Gilbert they will be fine. I’m interested to see who they sign as backs
A marquee signing gives the club good PR and will help attract fans for sure but just look at the Knights and Titans who have spent big on marquee signings, it's not made much different to their on field performances.
 

Colk

First Grade
Messages
6,750
A marquee signing gives the club good PR and will help attract fans for sure but just look at the Knights and Titans who have spent big on marquee signings, it's not made much different to their on field performances.

That’s true. That might be more to do with picking the wrong marquee players though.

If they get Munster at a price similar to Fifita and Ponga that would be a good deal.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
The Storm are reportedly “furious” over Wayne Bennett’s pursuit of their star five-eighth Cameron Munster and have lodged a formal complaint over the matter.
Munster comes off contract at the end of 2023 but is in talks with the Dolphins for a potential move in 2024.
However, the Storm are seeing red, according to News Corp, after a report surfaced claiming Bennett and the Dolphins were prepared to buy out Munster’s $1.2 million contract for 2023 to get him in time for their inaugural season.
ennett also declared publicly that the Dolphins were “keen to have Cameron at Redcliffe, whether it is 2023 or 2024.”
News Corp reports the Storm feel Bennett’s comment was borderline “arrogant” and have sent a complaint to the Dolphins saying “Cameron Munster is not available for release in 2023. Zero chance.”

 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
The man behind the NRL's expansion into the Gold Coast has warned the Dolphins their early years will be bleak if they can't coax someone of Cameron Munster's quality to Redcliffe.


The Dolphins have increasingly been used as leverage by player managers as the likes of Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney and now Ponga have slipped through their grasp.
It's already threatening to be a point of concern, according to Gold Coast's inaugural football manager Scott Sattler.
"Missing Ponga is a big one," he told AAP.
"Munster is not even in the discussion at the moment because he's on contract for 2023 and the Dolphins have already taken three of Melbourne's players."
Sattler knows a thing or two about start-up clubs.
Sattler played for the South Queensland Crushers between 1995 and 1996 before being part of the Titans' set up for their entry back in 2007.
"I reckon they could be a big chance of signing Reece Walsh from the Warriors because he engages a young fan base," he said.
"The signings they've made will set the values that will continue through the club.
"They are astute moves by Wayne (Bennett) but you do need that big fish that sends a message to members that you're a chance of winning most weekends."
Sattler said the biggest thing working against the Dolphins was their lack of lead-in time.

From the day the Titans were granted their licence in May 2005, they had a hit-list that led to the signings of Preston Campbell, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey and Mat Rogers from rugby union before their debut game in 2007.

Digby Ioane was another they got close to adding, and the Titans were so ambitious they attempted to sign Jonah Lomu as a bench forward -- only for the latter's wife, who doubled as his agent, to demand they pay the All Blacks great "phonebook numbers" and ask for a share of gate takings.
"We had a long run-in from May 27, 2005
"We did everything backwards, which meant that we were talking to clubs about players they couldn't keep beyond their existing contracts and getting players to sign letters of intent way before we had been granted a licence.
"You've got to sell the club before you get the licence.
"It's arrogant, I know, but I've seen it work."

 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
A possibles squad based on rumours and off contracts. looks competitive.

1. Walsh (possible 2024)
2. Isaako
3. Farnworth (possible)
4. Hurrell (rumoured)
5. R Jennings (possible)
6. Munster (possible 2024)
7. O'Sullivan (rumoured)
8. J Bromwich
9. Parcell (possible)
10. Nicholls
11. Kaufusi
12. K Bromwich
13. Topine (possible)

14. Gilbert
15. Stone
16. Tolman (possible)
17. Ese Ese (possible)

rest
18. Isaiya Katoa
19. Valynce Te Whare
 
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