2025 Preview: Dolphins

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AJ Lucantonio previews the NRL's newest club - the Dolphins - ahead of their third premiership campaign, their first without Wayne Bennett.

Will the Phins be another Bennett curse victim?

2024 saw the Dolphins end the Wayne Bennett era, a whisker away from their maiden finals' appearance. Now, they have the heir apparent Kristian Woolf coming to take the reins, as he looks to continue from where Bennett left off from.Last season, much like their maiden campaign brought about many questions surrounding their roster and their inability to put teams away in critical situations. In at least a handful of their losses, there was an opportunity to ice the game and put the opposition away early but far too often they failed to let that happen. Now with Isaiya Katoa having a successful campaign with Tonga and with more expectation than ever before, the Dolphins are hell-bent on improving this season.

The leading question right from the outset is will Woolf be a victim of the infamous Wayne Bennett curse. Coaches such as Ivan Henjak, Steve Price, Rick Stone, Anthony Seibold and Jason Demetriou have all fallen victim to the sack after taking over from the NRL Hall of Fame coach. On paper, the Dolphins have all the hallmarks of being successful in the aftermath of Bennett's departure, especially given how hands on Woolf has been over the foundation years at the NRL's newest franchise.

Looking ahead though, and there are plenty of reasons to get around the Dolphins in 2025. Mainly given the talent that this roster still has to hit. Jack Bostock, fresh off Rookie of the Year honours will be looking to avoid second year syndrome. Max Plath proved himself enormously last season through the middle third, covering a multitude of positions while there are some young players in the mix such as Oryn Keeley who will be looking to fill the void left by departing forwards.

Speaking of filling voids. There was one significant void last season that wasn't filled at all throughout 2024. That was the heartbreaking loss of Tom Gilbert in the second week of the Pre-Season Challenge with a crippling knee injury. Gilbert comes back as a new signing and will be a leader with Tom Flegler's future in the game a major talking point as he battles back from a nerve damage issue in his shoulder. 

Why Will They Win It?

The Dolphins are a young team on the rise with talent and speed to burn. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was amazing across fullback and centre last year, but since the ACL injury to Trai Fuller in last year's QLD Cup finals series, the Hammer will have to settle back in the 1 jumper. Herbie Farnworth was so close to winning the Golden Boot last year and will be primed to lead the troops around the park. Jake Averillo has been taking reps at 5/8 over summer while new recruits Junior Tupou and Max Feagai battle out for remaining spots in the backline.

Up front, Jesse Bromwich's departure gives plenty of chances for the young brigade of Dolphins to become the enforcer in the pack with new recruit Dan Saifiti expected to lift the chargers if Flegler isn't back in time for the season opener. New recruit Kulikefu Finefeuiaki will be damaging as an out and out edge back-rower as Gilbert moves into the middle third of the field. Jeremy Marshall-King will have to do more of the talking in the attack and hope that his body doesn't break down yet again. 

Why They Won't?

The ability to close out matches. As touched on already, the Dolphins Achillies heal in 2024 was closing out matches. Losses against Newcastle, Penrith, Gold Coast and Sydney could've become wins if they were able to close out matches that they were in a winning position in. 

Also, the loss of players like Hammer, Gilbert and potentially Flegler (if fit) to Origin will cause significant disruption and force players to take a leadership role with three big guns on the sideline for critical stretches of the season. Injuries took a toll toward the end of the season and they struggled fitting their best 17 on the park for a majority of the campaign. The pressure will be on Kristian Woolf from the outset to get results early in the season to relieve the pressure heading into the representative scene.

2025 fixture list

Players to Watch

Hard to ignore the Hammer here. Easily their best attacking weapon, his ability to create something out of nothing caused teams an almighty headache since he arrived at the club so expect the same to happen here in 25'. Herbie Farnworth got more comfortable as the season got on, expect his combination on the right to continue to improve as his strength and agility cause big problems. 

Max Plath was arguably the game's most improved lock. The young Mr Fix It showcased immense talent and a motor to match it, making over 30 tackles most weeks as well as carrying the football with regularity. Daniel Saifiti will have a big season too as he looks to jump out of the Newcastle bubble and make a name for himself as one of the game's premier props.

Rookies

Always an exciting watch are the rookies that are on the up. At the Dolphins, Oryn Keeley proved himself in a big way last year in first grade. He backed it up with a Man of the Match performance for feeder side Norths Devils in the State Championship win over Newtown. Given some forwards have departed, Keeley will be looking for regular NRL action this year.

Also searching for more NRL minutes is Mason Teague after a strong campaign for Norths in the QLD Cup. The problem for Teague is his time at the NRL level have been in unfamiliar positions, we haven't seen him at his best position which is lock so if he can get minutes off the pine, it will be of good use. Uncapped edge back-rowers Ellijah Rasmussen and Aublix Tawha will get big trial minutes and push for an NRL debut.

Player Movements

IN: Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (North Qld), Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle), Max Feagai (St Geo Illa)

TOP 30: Connelly Lemuelu, Daniel Saifiti, Felise Kaufusi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Harrison Graham, Herbie Farnworth, Isaiya Katoa, Jack Bostock, Jake Averillo, Jamayne Isaako, Jeremiah Simbiken, Jeremy Marshall-King, Josh Kerr, Junior Tupou, Kenneath Bromwich, Kodi Nikroima, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Kurt Donoghoe, Mark Nicholls, Mason Teague, Max Feagai, Max Plath, Michael Waqa, Oryn Keeley, Ray Stone, Sean O'Sullivan, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Trai Fuller
Euan Aitken (South Sydney)

OUT: Tevita Pangai Junior (Catalans), Anthony Milford (Souths Logan), Tesi Niu (Leigh), Valynce Te Whare (rugby union), Jesse Bromwich, Edrick Lee (retired)

DEVELOPMENT: Aublix Tawha, Elijah Rasmussen, Ryan Jackson, Tevita Naufahu, Lewis Symonds

Best 17

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jack Bostock
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Junior Tupou
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
13. Tom Gilbert

14. Max Plath
15. Oryn Keeley
16. Connelly Lemuelu
17. Mark Nicholls