2024 review: Dolphins

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Kelly Hollis recaps the new club's second season of NRL, as Wayne Bennett prepares to depart Redcliffe for South Sydney.

The Dolphins' 2024 season was a mixed bag of ups and downs, ultimately reflecting the growing pains of a relatively new NRL side.

They started the year strong, picking up some important early wins, including a standout victory in Round 2 over the Brisbane Broncos, which sparked hopes of a consistent season. 

However, inconsistency became a theme, with the Dolphins struggling to string wins together. A mid-season five-game losing streak, including heavy defeats to the Panthers and Storm, saw them slide down the ladder. Despite this, there were some standout moments. A massive 38-12 victory over the Parramatta Eels in Round 7, led by a Jack Bostock hat trick, showcased the team's potential when everything clicked. 

The Dolphins' attack showed flashes of brilliance, with multiple players contributing to the scoreboard. Still, defensive issues and injuries to key players like Tom Gilbert and Jeremy Marshall-King hindered their ability to consistently compete with the top sides. They finished the season with several spirited performances but ultimately missed the finals, finishing in the lower half of the ladder. 

Turning Point

The turning point of the Dolphins' season came with the unfortunate injury to Thomas Flegler. Flegler had been a cornerstone of the forward pack, providing strength and aggression in both defence and attack. His injury in Round 5 was a massive blow to the team's momentum. Until then, the Dolphins had been holding their own against top-tier teams, but losing Flegler created a noticeable gap in their forward rotation. Without his presence, the Dolphins struggled to dominate in the middle of the field, leading to a drop in form and a series of tough losses that hampered their push towards the finals.

What Worked

The Dolphins' attack was one of their bright spots throughout the season. Several players scored more than 10 tries throughout the season, including Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who was electric, scoring 15 tries in just 16 appearances, using his speed and agility to great effect. Along with the ‘Hammer', Jack Bostock crossed for 14 tries while Jamayne Isaako, reliable as ever, crossed the line 12 times in 24 games. Jake Averillo and Herbie Farnworth added 11 and 8 tries, respectively, to complement the team's attacking potency. With such a range of attacking threats across the backline, the Dolphins showed they could outscore opponents on their day and were often one of the more exciting teams to watch when in full flow.

What Didn't Work

Defensive lapses and the inability to close out tight games cost the Dolphins dearly. Several matches were lost due to weak defending in the final minutes, which allowed their opponents to steal victory. Injuries to key players throughout the season also left the squad thin at crucial times, leading to a drop in form during the last stretch of the season.

2024 week-by-week

Best Players

Max Plath was a standout player of the Dolphins' season. His performance at both Lock and Hooker was exceptional, playing 21 games and winning the Arthur Beetson Medal as the Dolphins' Player of the Year. His tackling efficiency of 94.6% and over 900 tackles demonstrated his defensive capabilities, while he also contributed with four tries.

Plath's leadership on the field also earned him the Players' Player Award. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, with his 15 tries, and Jack Bostock, who earned the Dally M Rookie of the Year award, were also among the key contributors for the Dolphins in 2024.

Rookies

21-year-old winger Jack Bostock had an outstanding rookie season, playing 23 games and scoring 14 tries. His hat trick against the Parramatta Eels in Round 7 was one of the highlights of the season.

His ability to break tackles (56 in total) and make line breaks (21) added another dimension to the Dolphins' attack. Averaging 139 metres per game, Bostock was awarded both the Dally M Rookie of the Year and the Dolphins' Rookie of the Year.

2024 player record

Season snapshot

Coaches: Wayne Bennett (24), Kristian Woolf (1)
Captains: Jesse Bromwich (22), Kodi Nikorima (1), Mark Nicholls (1)

Biggest home crowd: 50,049 (vs. Brisbane in round 26)
Average home crowd: 23,933

Top pointscorer: Jamayne Isaako (225)
Top tryscorer: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (15)

Club awards

Arthur Beetson Medal Player of the Year - Max Plath
Players' Player - Max Plath
Best Forward - Max Plath
Best Back - Herbie Farnworth
Most Consistent Player - Mark Nicholls
Rookie of the Year - Jack Bostock
Adventure Kings Fan Voted MVP - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Academic Achievement Award - Tom Gilbert
Club Person of the Year - Natalie Campbell

Looking Ahead to 2025

The Dolphins will enter a new chapter in 2025 with the departure of legendary coach Wayne Bennett, who is returning to coach the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Kristian Woolf, a coach with plenty of international and Super League experience, will replace Bennett in the hot seat. Woolf's success with Tonga and St Helens, where he won three consecutive Super League Grand Finals, bodes well for the future of the Dolphins. His experience in big games and success in different leagues will be key as he transitions to Head Coach.

The Dolphins have also made some important signings to bolster their squad for the 2025 season. Origin front-rower Daniel Saifiti will join the team, adding much-needed muscle up front. Dragons' outside back Max Feagai and Wests Tigers' Junior Tupou will bring depth to their backline. Meanwhile, Kodi Nikorima has agreed to stay with the club for another two years, ensuring stability in their halves pairing. 

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be an intriguing season for the Dolphins. The combination of new signings, players returning from injury, and the introduction of Kristian Woolf as Head Coach will shape the direction of the team. With new faces like Saifiti and Feagai adding to an already exciting squad, expectations will be high to improve their 2024 performances and challenge for a top-eight spot. Woolf's tactical nous and focus on defensive solidity could be the missing piece in the Dolphins' puzzle as they look to turn narrow losses into wins and become genuine finals contenders.

Predicted 2025 R1 line-up:

based on current signings at time of writing

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 
2. Jamayne Isaako 
3. Jake Averillo 
4. Herbie Farnworth 
5. Jack Bostock 
6. Kodi Nikorima 
7. Isaiya Katoa 
8. Daniel Saifiti 
9. Jeremy Marshall-King 
10. Mark Nicholls 
11. Felise Kaufusi 
12. Tom Gilbert 
13. Max Plath 

14. Ray Stone 
15. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 
16. Connelly Lemuelu 
17. Kenny Bromwic