Dolphins bid director and general manager Terry Reader has been forced to defend the controversial decision to axe Redcliffe from the name of the team that will enter the NRL in 2023.
Reader was grilled on the topic by Peter FitzSimons on Nine's Sports Sunday.
The NRL on Monday
confirmed the Dolphins had won the race to be the NRL's newest team.
In a change the left many scratching their heads, they
decided to take the geographical location "Redcliffe" out of their name, despite the rest of their club's teams being called the Redcliffe Dolphins.
According to Reader, the architect behind the club's successful bid, the club's decision was made as part of a goal to "have a broader appeal" to NRL fans.
"The Redcliffe Dolphins will always exist and they will play in the Queensland Cup and they're the most successful team in the Queensland Cup era," Reader told Sports Sunday.
"But the Dolphins national brand differentiates itself from Redcliffe.
"The game has a massive opportunity to have a broader appeal, especially here in Queensland... we only have one team in Brisbane, now we have two.
"We will be honouring our past and always taking note of our traditions, but this going into the future."
FitzSimons questioned why the club would ditch the Redcliffe branding given its rich history, which was previously home to rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson, who played for and coached the side.
"You've got this proud history, you've been there since 1947," FitzSimons said.
"The great Artie Beetson played for you. Why on earth, when you've got this glorious future in front of you... why would you cut off half your identity?
"Could you be more disrespectful to the town, the area, who you are."
Reader went on the defensive.
"We're certainly not cutting off the identity, that will remain in the Queensland Cup and it's part of our pathway where hopefully many boys and girls get the opportunity to go on and play at the highest level," Reader said.
"Our club will be more than just Redcliffe. Brisbane is bigger than just the CBD now, we happen to be situated in the fastest growing area in Queensland."
FitzSimons didn't stop, challenging Reader for a better response.
"There will be new traditions that will honour the past," Reader added.
"An Immortal, Arthur Beetson, we've already got things in play we want to bring to life to honour that.
"There will be many things that link back to the history and that won't be forgotten."
'Why would you cut off half your identity?'
wwos.nine.com.au
