In 2020, coinciding with the opening of a new Moreton Daily Stadium[8] (known as Kayo Stadium from 7 December 2022),[9] the Redcliffe Dolphins launched a bid on 22 September 2020 for the inclusion of a separate new team in the national competition. On 13 October 2021, the 17th NRL licence was granted to the Dolphins after they competed for it against two other consortiums (the Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets) also linked to existing Queensland Cup clubs.[10]Wayne Bennett was signed as the inaugural NRL coach.[11] On 26 November 2021, the Dolphins made their first major signing for their 2023 entry, recruiting Felise Kaufusi from the Melbourne Storm.[12] Not long after, he was joined by Storm team mates, Jesse Bromwich (who was named as the Dolphins inaugural team captain in February 2023)[13] and his brother Kenny Bromwich. Although separately licensed, the Dolphins NRL venture is owned by the Redcliffe Dolphins and is their fully professional spin-off club.[14]
In December 2021, it was confirmed that Queensland Rugby League (QRL) team the Central Queensland Capras had secured a full affiliation deal with the Dolphins.[15] The Capras and Dolphins deal should see up to six Dolphins NRL players compete for the Capras in the Queensland Cup competition each week.[16] In May 2022, the PNG Hunters announced a strategic pathways partnership with the Dolphins that includes full NRL pre-season participation for four young Papua New Guinean players, beginning in the PNGNRL Digicel Cup, through to the PNG Hunters in the QRL state competition and then directly into the Australian NRL system.[17]
On 10 November 2022, the NRL officially released the 2023 fixtures.[26][27] This included the Dolphins' first NRL match,[28] against the Sydney Roosters[29] on 5 March 2023 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane to honour rugby league ImmortalArthur (Artie) Beetson, a former player and coach of both the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Roosters.[26][30][31] The Dolphins won 28–18 in front of a crowd of 32,177 fans.[32][33] Jesse Bromwich captained the side.[34]Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored the Dolphins' first points with a try.[35] Subsequent points were added by Mark Nicholls (one try), Connelly Lemuelu (one try) and Jamayne Isaako (two tries and four conversion goals).[36] The Artie Legacy Medal for player of the match was awarded to Felise Kaufusi.[37] Prior to NRL Round 7 2023, the combined leading try-scorers for the Dolphins are Jamayne Isaako and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, both on 8 tries.Players
In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, Tesi Niu became the first player in the Dolphins NRL history to score a hat-trick when they defeated the Newcastle Knights 36–20 at McDonald Jones Stadium.[38] After winning their first three NRL matches,[27] the Dolphins hosted their first Battle for Brisbane derby in Round 4 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 24 March 2023 and were defeated 18–12[39] by the Brisbane Broncos.[40][39] On Friday 7 April 2023 in the Dolphins' round 6 victory 32–22 against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow equalled a 115-year-old NRL record, scoring tries in six straight matches for a new club.[41] In round 8 on 23 April 2023, the Dolphins equalled the greatest comeback in premiership history to defeat the Gold Coast Titans 28–26 at Suncorp Stadium, after trailing the Titans 26–0 after the first twenty-six minutes. The record for a winning comeback in premiership history dating to 1908 was set in 1998, when the North Queensland Cowboys went from being down 26–0 to defeating the Penrith Panthers 36–28 at full-time.[42]
In Round 9 of the 2023 NRL season, the Dolphins played their first golden point game but lost 30–31 to the Canberra Raiders at McDonalds[43] Park, Wagga Wagga.[44] 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.[45] "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." Nevertheless, Annesley advised that no policy changes could be considered until the current season is over.[46]
In Round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, 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.[47]
By the end of the Dolphins' inaugural season, 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 centreMal Meninga in 1990.[48] At the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in September 2023, Isaako was awarded the
Arthur Beetson Medal Player of the Year as well as the Best Back, the Most Consistent, and the Players' Player awards.[49]
Dolphins NRL 2024 home and away jerseys (front view)NRL Indigenous Round 12 Dolphins jersey 2023 (front view)
The Dolphins retained the red and white of their Queensland Cup counterparts, with gold added to the colour scheme[52] to avoid a clash with NRL club St. George Illawarra Dragons. Otherwise, the 'Redcliffe' name is not being used in an effort to broaden appeal nationally beyond the local region.[10][53]
After a fan vote in July 2022, "Phinny" the Dolphin was confirmed as the club's NRL mascot.[54] Sandy, a companion mascot, was later revealed.[55] During a pre-season training camp, senior players composed a team theme song.[56] Separately, the team catchphrase and hashtag is 'Phins Up' (#PhinsUp).[57]
Jerseys
On 27 October 2021, the Dolphins unveiled a heritage jersey design, inspired by the Redcliffe Dolphins jersey from the 1980s. The design is predominantly red, with white sleeves and a gold trim.[58] On 2 October 2022, the debut home jersey design for 2023 was unveiled just prior to kick-off of the 2022 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium in Sydney.[59] The inaugural away jersey was released on 11 November.[60] Otherwise, the team training shirt is predominantly black in colour.[61]
In April 2023, Brisbane law firm Gnech and Associates Lawyers joined on an initial two-year agreement as the official Legal Practice Partner of the Dolphins' NRL club.[67] In August 2023, the Dolphins announced global miner Anglo American as "its newest Premier Partner from 2024, as well as the club’s official Mining Partner, and a Community Partner".[68]
Team song
We are the Dolphins
The red, white and gold
From Brissy to CQ
The young and the old
Sing it loud
And put up your phins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
Born ready to win
To make the fans proud
We take on the battle
And light up the crowd
Sing it loud
And put up your phins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
Sing it loud
And put up your phins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins[69]
Pre-season training commenced 7 November 2022,[59][72] with 7 December designated as the inaugural open training session for fans and the general public to attend.[73] In their first NRL match,[74] the Dolphins defeated the Sydney Roosters 28–18[75] on 5 March 2023 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[26][29]
The Dolphins play most of their twelve home games at the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with a few other matches at Sunshine Coast Stadium and Kayo Stadium,[9] which also serves as a training and administration base.[118] The redevelopment of Browne Park in Rockhampton may also see occasional Dolphins' games at that venue.[16]
^ abThe official brand name of the new club team competing in the NRL from 2023 onwards is 'Dolphins'. Although the official company name of the parent club remains the "Redcliffe District Rugby League Football Club Inc" and the name 'Redcliffe Dolphins' was dropped, the old squad still competing separately in the Queensland state competition remains branded as the "Redcliffe Dolphins".[1][2] The NRL-bid director for the team (Terry Reader) said in 2021 that they "...had to be careful about how we name it because we don't want to alienate anyone and we want to make sure we have the biggest reach." He added that: "We want to make sure we've got broader appeal and whether that's a more contemporary look and feel, it's because we're a national NRL club and the Redcliffe Dolphins will remain and play in the Q-Cup."[3]
^Debut 2023 home jersey design differs to this illustration.
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