The Dolphins are hoping the recruitment of Broncos pair Thomas Flegler and Herbie Farnworth can fix a glaring issue.
Meanwhile, Anthony Milford is fighting for his future in a make or break contract year as Wayne Bennett plots another miracle in his final season with the club.
Read on for Dolphins’ State of Play.
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NRL releases full 2024 season draw | 02:31
COACHES: Wayne Bennett
Wayne Bennett enters the final year of his deal with the Dolphins before handing the team over to assistant Kristian Woolf and will be hellbent on leading them to a maiden finals appearance before he goes. Bennett’s Dolphins caused plenty of surprises in their inaugural season on their way to nine wins and a 13th placed finish, but injuries and a lack of depth caught up with the team over the course of a long season. Building a finals calibre squad takes time, but Bennett set the standards of the club from day one and with some reinforcements in 2024, you would be a brave man to bet against Bennett taking them to September footy given his record in the game. Woolf and former Dragons premiership winner as a player Nathan Fein will again be Bennett’s assistants in 2024.
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2024 squad: Anthony Milford (2024), Connelly Lemuelu (2025), Edrick Lee (2024), Euan Aitken (2024), Felise Kaufusi (2025), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2027), Harrison Graham (2025), Herbie Farnworth (2026), Isaiya Katoa (2025), Jack Bostock (2025), Jake Averillo (2026), Jamayne Isaako (2026), Jarrod Wallace (2024), Jeremy Marshall-King (2025), Jesse Bromwich (2024), Josh Kerr (2025), Kenneath Bromwich (2025), Kodi Nikorima (2024), Mark Nicholls (2024, CO 2025), Mason Teague (2024, MO 2025), Oryn Keeley (2026), Ray Stone (2024), Robert Jennings (2024, MO 2025), Sean O’Sullivan (2025), Tesi Niu (2024), Thomas Flegler (2027) Tom Gilbert (2028), Valynce Te Whare (2024)
Development players: James Walsh (2024), Jeremiah Simbiken (2024, CO 2025), Kurt Donoghoe (2024), Max Plath (2025), Michael Waqa (2024, CO 2025), Ryan Jackson (2024, CO 2025)
PLAYERS IN: Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Oryn Keeley (Knights)
The Dolphins have recruited well for 2024 by snaring two Grand Final players from the Broncos in Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler. Farnworth has scored 34 tries in 79 games for the Broncos and has played four Tests for England, while Flegler has five tries in 96 games for Brisbane to his name to go with three Origins for Queensland and one Test for the Kangaroos. The Broncos pair know what it takes to win and will add plenty `of experience and star power to the Dolphins side. Jake Averillo switches from the Bulldogs and brings with him 31 tries from 78 NRL games of experience. Averillo provides versatility in that he can cover centre, fullback and the halves and depending on where Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Farnworth play he will likely either be on the edge or at the back.
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PLAYERS OUT: Brenko Lee (released), Herman Ese’ese (Hull FC), Poasa Faamausili (Bulldogs), JJ Collins (unsigned)
WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE: Edge defence and playmaking
The Dolphins were caught out and exploited on their edges last season and bolstering their defence in the centres has clearly been a focal point. They have brought in Farnworth and Averillo to add size and speed to the centres with the Broncos star in particular an excellent defender. Bennett moved Tabuai-Fidow to the centres last year and if he and Farnworth play there with Averillo at the back it will be a much better defensive unit. The Dolphins also struggled in the halves at times and need to work out their best combination and stick solid in 2024, so they don’t have to rely so much on Tabuai-Fidow’s brilliance to spark most of their attacking raids.
WHO THEY COULD SIGN: Broncos
Nothing gets under the Broncos skin more than Wayne Bennett and the competition’s newest team poaching players from the club that is no longer the only kids on the block in Brisbane. Already the Dolphins have signed Flegler and Farnworth from Brisbane’s Grand Final side, but if they were able to target Ezra Mam, who is off-contract in 2024 it would be a massive coup and a huge blow for their bitter rivals. The Broncos need to find money for Mam and Reece Walsh and they may not be able to keep both. Mam and Isaiya Katoa could be the Dolphins halves for the next decade.
PLAYER UNDER MOST PRESSURE: Anthony Milford
Anthony Milford turns 30 in 2024 and finds himself again playing for his future in the NRL in a contract year. Milford was dropped at the start of last season in favour of rookie Isaiya Katoa and he struggled to cement a starting spot all year unless injuries struck. Milford managed three tries in just 11 games for the Dolphins and most of them were off the bench as a utility. Bennett challenged Milford to decide if he wanted to be a premier half in the NRL or if he was content to cruise through the back end of his career. Based on what he produced last year, Milford needs a monster pre-season and 2024 to convince the Dolphins that his NRL days are not coming to an end.
YOUNG GUN TO WATCH: Isaiya Katoa
Isaiya Katoa impressed with 11 try assists and two tries in 22 games in his rookie season in 2023, but like the Dolphins he began to tire and get jaded over the course of a long season. That is understandable when you consider the former Panthers junior doesn’t turn 20 until next August. Katoa leapfrogged former Origin player Milford for the starting five-eighth role last season and while he was dropped on occasions last year and relegated to the bench at times, that was more Bennett trying to protect his young playmaker. Katoa has already played six Tests for Tonga and will benefit immensely from another pre-season heading into his second year in the top grade. Katoa has a good head on his shoulders and with his footwork, passing and kicking games he can be a mainstay of the Dolphins halves for another decade at least.
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