From the Presidents Desk

THE battle has only just started for the right to bear the Dolphins name. Our club will not be surrendering our 35-year-old emblem, name and all the goodwill we have built up with it. Our CEO James Hinchey has written to the National Rugby League chief executive officer David Gallop expressing our amazement and disappointment that he apparently did not know Redcliffe were the Dolphins. In his letter, James has asked for a meeting with Mr Gallop at which we will state our case against Gold Coast's adoption of the Dolphin name for their inclusion in the NRL. We also will be bringing pressure to bear on the BRL Division and Queensland Rugby League, as our immediate governing bodies, for their support in our battle. While Dawn Hill and her loyal band started their campaign in front of the TV cameras for the Clydesdales-Redcliffe match, our club will bring in heavy artillery. We have met our trademark lawyer and he believes we have a good case. We believe the NRL needs another consortium in the southeast corner of Queensland and back Gold Coast's entry, however we object strongly to their usurping our history. As the Dolphins, the Redcliffe football club has played a major part in our city's history and development and that also will mount a part of our case. Observers only have to take in the number of businesses and organisations on the Peninsula which use either the dolphin name or emblem to promote themselves to realise its connection to the area. As I said last month, our club has aspirations to join the NRL and our contribution to the code cannot be underestimated. When the Broncos downed the Knights last month, there were five former Dolphins - Petero Civoniceva, David Stagg, Craig Frawley, Brent Tate and Dane Carlaw - in their ranks. I MUST congratulate our Queensland Residents on their selections and performances. Justin McKay, Adam Starr, Danny Green, Trent Leis, Troy Lindsay and Ben Jones can hold their heads proud after the convincing win over Country at Barcaldine and then the narrow loss to NSW Residents at Stadium Australia. And that was after Shane Perry, Damien Richters and Brian Jellick pulled out of the rep teams with personal commitments. We also congratulated our three reps in the Australian under 15 side. Asher Elemani, Dane Hogan and Ben Jones were presented with special trophies to commemorate their achievements with Ben still an under 14. While on football, the Dolphins have surged back into form and as we go to press are equal top on the ladder. A strong win in Townsville over the Young Guns was followed up by victory over Brothers Valleys and then a confidence-boosting result over the Clydesdales. The side appears to lift under pressure and I'm certain we can figure in the premiership countdown again this season. We have a hard road into the finals with Norths, Easts and Burleigh Heads - all semi-final hopefuls - upcoming fixtures, although we have Norths and Burleigh at home. Congratulations also go to Shane Perry and his wife Angela on the birth of their daughter Kiara Rose. Until next month, President Des Webb