2023 Dolphins (NRL) season explained

Year:2023
Team Colour:
  1. ff0505
Font Colour:
  1. fffcfc
League:NRL
League Rank:13th
League Wins:9
League Losses:15
Points For:520
Points Against:631 (Rd 27)
Playoff Result:DNQ
Ceo Title:CEO
Ceo:Terry Reader
Coach Title:Head Coach
Coach:Wayne Bennett
Captain:Jesse Bromwich[1] [2]
(Rds 1–5, 7–9, 12–25, 27)
Mark Nicholls
(Round 6)[3]
Felise Kaufusi
(Rds 10 & 26)[4]
Stadium:Suncorp Stadium
52,500 (7 home games)
Sunshine Coast Stadium
12,000 (1 home game)
Kayo Stadium
11,500 (3 home games)
Optus Stadium
65,000 (1 home game – double-header)
Avg Attendance:22,919 (Round 27)[5]
High Attendance:51,047 (Round 4) Suncorp Stadium
Low Attendance:5,130 (Round 22) Salter Oval
Top Tries:Jamayne Isaako (24)
(Round 27)
Top Goals:Jamayne Isaako (73 + 2 FG)
(Round 27)
Top Points:Jamayne Isaako (244)
(Round 27)
List:yes
List Link:Dolphins (NRL)#Season summaries

The 2023 Dolphins season is historically the inaugural season for the Dolphins club in the professional National Rugby League (NRL) football competition in Australia. With Wayne Bennett as head coach and Jesse Bromwich as the regular team captain, the Dolphins competed in the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership but did not qualify for the finals. Nevertheless, they finished in thirteenth place, ahead of four other established teams.

Dolphins goal-kicking winger Jamayne Isaako recorded both the highest number of NRL tries and points in the 2023 competition; a feat last achieved by Canberra Raiders goal-kicking Mal Meninga in 1990.[6]

In Round 9, the Dolphins played their first golden point game but lost 30–31 to the Canberra Raiders at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga.[7]

The NRL later conceded that match officials missed a crucial knock-on call late in Canberra's golden-point victory when the former regained possession after knocking the ball into the arm of a Dolphins player. "The NRL's head of football Graham Annesley said referee Peter Gough was obscured in his view of the knock on, but the sideline officials should have pulled the play up." Otherwise, Annesley advised that no policy changes could be considered until the current season is over.[8] [9]

In Round 13, an illegal try on the seventh tackle of a set was awarded to the St. George Illawarra Dragons in their 26–12 loss to the Dolphins at Kayo Stadium; the decision would not have been overturned even if the Dolphins had lost the game.[10]

2023 Club awards

In September, the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball was held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the club's annual awards were announced.[11]

Player movements

All 2023 signings

Player Previous Club Length
Euan AitkenNew Zealand Warriors2024[12]
Brenton BairaMackay Cutters2023[13]
Tory BathNudgee College2024[14]
Jack BostockSt. George Illawarra Dragons2025[15]
Jesse BromwichMelbourne Storm2024[16]
Kenny BromwichMelbourne Storm2025[17]
Bailey ButlerCQ Capras2024
JJ CollinsTweed Heads Seagulls2023[18]
John-Paul DonevskiPenrith Panthers2024
Kurt DonoghoeCentral Newcastle2024[19]
Herman Ese'eseGold Coast Titans2023[20]
Poasa FaamausiliSt. George Illawarra Dragons2023[21]
Trai FullerRedcliffe Dolphins2023[22]
Tom GilbertNorth Queensland Cowboys2023[23]
Oliver GildartWests Tigers2023[24]
Harrison GrahamWynnum Manly Seagulls2023[25]
Lachlan HubnerCQ Capras2024
Cody HunterRedcliffe Dolphins2023[26]
Jamayne IsaakoGold Coast Titans2026[27] [28]
Ryan JacksonWynnum Manly Seagulls2023
Robert JenningsPenrith Panthers2025[29]
Isaiya KatoaPenrith Panthers2025[30]
Felise KaufusiMelbourne Storm2025[31]
Josh KerrSt George Illawarra Dragons2025[32]
Brenko LeeBrisbane Broncos2024[33]
Edrick LeeNewcastle Knights2024
Connelly LemueluNorth Queensland Cowboys2025[34]
Jeremy Marshall-KingCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2025[35]
Brayden McGradyNorths Devils2024[36]
Anthony MilfordNewcastle Knights2024[37]
Mark NichollsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs2024[38]
Kodi NikorimaSouth Sydney Rabbitohs2024[39]
Tesi NiuBrisbane Broncos2024[40]
Sean O'SullivanPenrith Panthers2025[41]
Max PlathWynnum Manly Seagulls2025[42]
Elijah RasmussenWestlake Boys High School2023[43]
Michael RobertsNorthern Rivers Titans2023
Radean RobinsonCQ Capras2024
Jeremiah SimbikenRedcliffe Dolphins2025[44]
Ray StoneParramatta Eels2024[45]
Tyler SzepanowskiCQ Capras2024
Hamiso Tabuai-FidowNorth Queensland Cowboys2027[46]
Mason TeaguePenrith Panthers2024[47]
Valynce Te WhareKing Country Rugby Football Union2024
Setu TuRedcliffe Dolphins2023[48]
Jarrod WallaceGold Coast Titans2024[49]
Michael WaqaRedcliffe Dolphins2024

Pre-season challenge

The 2023 NRL pre-season was played in February, before an eleven-day lead-up to the commencement of the regular 2023 NRL season.[50]

Regular season

League table

For the 2023 NRL season, the number of teams increased from sixteen to seventeen with the inclusion of the Dolphins, a fourth Queensland-based club, playing most of their home games at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Matches

In 2023, the Dolphins played seven of their twelve home games at the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, one at Sunshine Coast Stadium and the three other at Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe, which also served as a training and administration base.[51] Optus Stadium in Perth also hosted one home game. This occurred in Round 23 against the Newcastle Knights during a double-header with the other game being between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'There's our captain': Bromwich unveiled as Dolphins skipper | NRL.com. 6 March 2023. nrl.com.
  2. Web site: Casualty Ward: Moses sidelined; Bateman hamstrung in warm-up . 7 May 2023 .
  3. Web site: Final Team: Bromwich out, Nicholls to skipper . 7 April 2023 .
  4. Web site: Final Team: Te Whare to debut at centre . 6 May 2023 .
  5. Web site: NRL Results & Attendances | Austadiums .
  6. https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-try-scoring-point-scoring-record-jamayne-isaako-dolphins/38d4782b506657d012d24f77
  7. Web site: Raiders v Dolphins .
  8. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl-concedes-error-crucial-golden-061105474.html
  9. Web site: MSN . .
  10. https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-exposed-by-dragons-seventh-tackle-try-debacle-in-dolphins-loss/news-story/164caa6f54359816aa790f5cbeaf2230
  11. https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-nisaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/
  12. Web site: Dolphins sign exiting Warriors star Euan Aitken for foundation side. 26 May 2022 .
  13. Web site: NRL train and trial list. 5 November 2022 .
  14. Web site: Patterson . Emily . 27 October 2022 . Pre-season taking shape with player return dates set . amp.nine.com.au.
  15. Web site: 2022 NRL Signings Tracker: Naden joins Wests Tigers; Sivo extends with Eels . 17 May 2022 .
  16. Web site: gates . Zachary . 21 January 2022 . Storm co-captain signs with rival NRL club . 6 August 2023 . wwos.nine.com.au.
  17. Web site: Kenny Bromwich to join Dolphins in 2023. 3 February 2022. news.com.au. 9 March 2023. 21 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220221125455/https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/kenny-bromwich-to-join-dolphins-in-2023/video/d8cff49e72c6650bafd433d1fb8c8822. dead.
  18. Web site: 6 May 2022 . Dolphins open up NRL opportunities for two more . 6 August 2023 . qrl.com.au.
  19. Web site: McKinney . Max . 28 February 2023 . Central Newcastle junior to debut in Dolphins' inaugural NRL match . 6 August 2023 . newcastleherald.com.au.
  20. Web site: 29 September 2022 . Ese'ese joins Dolphins engine room . 6 August 2023 . dolphinsnrl.com.au.
  21. Web site: 17 October 2022 . Monster pack builds with Faamausili signing . 6 August 2023 . dolphinsnrl.com.au.
  22. Web site: Sargeant . Tom . 6 September 2022 . Rabbitohs re-sign 'impressive' young gun; Newcastle lock in Broncos half: Transfer Centre . 6 August 2023 . foxsports.com.au.
  23. Web site: Bungard . Matt . 26 April 2022 . Dolphins sign North Queensland Cowboys forward Tom Gilbert for 2023 season . 6 August 2023 . wwos.nine.com.au.
  24. Web site: Appleyard . Joe . 27 October 2022 . Former Wigan Warriors ace Oliver Gildart on verge of joining NRL club . examinerlive.co.uk.
  25. Web site: NRL 2022: Dolphins, Michael Roberts, Harrison Graham, Valynce Te Whare, 17th team announces young signings for 2023 - NRL. 16 December 2021. National Rugby League.
  26. Web site: Knight . Kylie . 22 July 2022 . "This is next level. It's awesome" . 6 March 2023 . Moreton Daily.
  27. Web site: Dolphins lure Isaako from Broncos in cross-town switch. 22 December 2021. National Rugby League.
  28. https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/10/10/isaako-extends-until-2026/
  29. Web site: Pryde . Scott . 9 May 2022 . Dolphins strike to sign Panthers back on long-term deal . 6 August 2023 . zerotackle.com.
  30. Web site: Chisholm . Ed . 17 February 2022 . Dolphins confirm signing of teenage Panthers prodigy Isaiya Katoa on a three-year deal . 6 August 2023 . sportingnews.com.
  31. Web site: Dobbin . Ben . Atkinson . Michael . and . 25 November 2021 . Dolphins land Origin star as first marquee signing . wwos.nine.com.au.
  32. Web site: 2023-06-17 . Kerr coming home to Dolphins in 2023 . 2023-06-18 . dolphinsnrl.com.au.
  33. Web site: Brenko Lee to join cousin as foundation Dolphin . 23 June 2022 .
  34. Web site: Tiernan . Eamonn . St John . Mark . and . 6 April 2023 . NRL 2023 Transfer Centre Connelly Lemuelu signs contract extension . 6 August 2023.
  35. Web site: 3 April 2023 . Panthers re-sign premiership prop on bumper new long-team deal: NRL Transfer Centre . 6 August 2023 . foxsports.com.au.
  36. Web site: Brayden McGrady.
  37. Web site: Milford set to knock back Knights to join rivals .
  38. Web site: Official: Rabbitohs release prop as Bennett strikes. Jake. Benoiton. 23 January 2022. Zero Tackle.
  39. Web site: Kodi coming home to be a Dolphin. 12 January 2022. dolphinsnrl.com.
  40. Web site: 30 June 2023 . Niu earns contract extension . 6 August 2023 . dolphinsnrl.com.au.
  41. Web site: 29 June 2022 . O'Sullivan joins the Dolphins . 6 August 2023 . dolphinsnrl.com.au.
  42. Web site: Exciting utility Plath signs with Dolphins | QRL . 11 April 2023 .
  43. Web site: Dolphins sign young Kiwi bopper for 2023. 30 November 2022. zerotackle.com.
  44. Web site: 25 August 2022 . From the verge of walking away, Simbiken earns NRL contract . qrl.com.au.
  45. Web site: Eels forward Stone signs with Dolphins. 6 December 2021. ESPN.com.
  46. Web site: 3 August 2023 . 2023 NRL Signings Tracker: Hunt extends Sharks deal; Montoya, Russell re-sign . nrl.com.
  47. Web site: Dolphins nab Panthers junior premiership winner for top squad shot . dolphinsnrl.com.au. 4 July 2022 .
  48. Web site: 29 July 2022 . Winger handed shot at NRL dreams with Dolphins . 6 August 2023 . dolphinsnrl.com.au.
  49. Web site: O'Loughlin . Liam . 9 June 2022 . Jarrod Wallace signs two-year deal with the Dolphins . Sporting News.
  50. Web site: Draw . 2022-11-10 . National Rugby League.
  51. Web site: Dolphins to join NRL in 2023, with Moreton Daily Stadium to host games . Austadiums . 13 October 2021.

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