NRL legend Corey Parker believes the Dolphins’ early-season byes gave the false perception Wayne Bennett’s men were travelling better than they really were.
The Dolphins were firmly entrenched in the top eight, and even the top four, at various stages throughout the first half of the season but now sit tenth as they fight to keep their finals hopes alive in this Saturday’s must-win Battle of Brisbane.
Parker told foxsports.com.au the Dolphins are currently placed where many predicted they’d be before the season commenced.
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“This is my take on the Dolphins. Everyone’s got an opinion, and they’re saying that they were sitting in the top four and absolutely they were, but to be very honest, I think they are about where I thought they’d be,” Parker said.
“If you go back a few months ago, the top eight was a fallacy because some teams had byes and others didn’t. The Dolphins were, I think, one of the first teams to have had their 2 byes, so they’ve accrued four more points than most others.
“The Cowboys were sitting in 12th position, and they didn’t have a bye until Round 16. Now all of a sudden, the Cowboys have found a couple of wins, had a couple of byes, and they’ve just leapfrogged a bunch of teams.”
The NRL’s newest side were awarded two points for each of their Round three, 14 and 18 byes.
Conversely, the Cowboys didn’t receive a bye until Round 16 before picking up two more in Rounds 19 and 25 to now sit sixth on the ladder.
For this reason, Parker believes Wayne Bennett’s side are sitting exactly where they’re meant to be ahead of the final fortnight of the season.
“So I actually think the Dolphins are where I had them at this point of the year anyway. I mean, I don’t think anyone at the start of the season had the Dolphins in their top four,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone at the start of the season had the Dolphins fifth or sixth or seventh, but rather they had them around where they are right now.”
Parker said the misconception the byes caused the competition ladder, particularly considering some teams wait much later in the season for a break, is evidence the two-point bye should be abolished.
“It’s a bugbear of mine and it irritates me, the fact that the NRL gives two points for a bye,” he said.
“It’s just stupid. It’s absolute stupidity to have 2 points for a bye. It lulls teams and fans into a false sense of security.”
Despite winning just three of their past 12 matches, the Dolphins have improved on their maiden season efforts after finishing 13th in 2023 on the back of nine wins and 15 losses to remain an outside chance at earning a place in this year’s finals.
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Parker said injuries and the Origin period had played a part in the club’s late-season capitulation.
“With a team that’s just started out in its 2nd year and you take some of those key individuals out of their team like (Jeremy) Marshall-King and (Tom) Flegler, well over a long period of time you start to see the effects,” he said.
“You take Jeremy Marshall King, Gilbert, Flegler, Jesse Bromwich and these guys that missed some football through the Origin period like the Hammer and Kaufusi, it does play its part.”
The Dolphins had limited time to put together their team before entering the competition last year with Bennett structuring a roster balanced with youth and experience.
Parker said some of the older guys were showing their age in the back end of the season.
“Now when they handpicked veteran guys like Kaufusi and Jesse Bromwich and Kenny Bromwich and Nicholls, they did it for a reason, right?,” he said.
“And the reason was to instil the, you know, what the club stood for, the DNA and I think as a rugby league supporter, you can see the DNA of the Dolphins.
“They work hard, they compete, and they play a bit of footy. But father time doesn’t stop for anybody. Jesse’s retiring at the end of the season.
“The game has gotten quicker, you know, and it’s difficult to hang on.”
Parker said one major positive for the club was the unearthing of some potential future NRL superstars including halfback Isaiya Katoa who has enjoyed a standout year after debuting in 2023.
“The upside of the Dolphins and the good things to talk about is Isaiya Katoa in his second season in the NRL has blossomed into a gun halfback. How good is he going?,” Parker said.
“Max Plath has been a revelation for him this season. Jack Bostock has been great out on the wing, Hamiso (Tabuai-Fidow) gets everyone up out of their seat and he’s still only 21 or 22 years of age.
“So, there’s so much upside for the Dolphins, but we all want to sort of jump on their form and what’s happening right now because we all saw them sitting fourth halfway through the season.”
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