2023 Dolphins (NRL) season

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NRL Rank13th
Play-off resultDNQ
2023 recordWins: 9; losses: 15
Points scoredFor: 520; against: 631 (Rd 27)
2023 Dolphins (NRL) season
NRL Rank13th
Play-off resultDNQ
2023 recordWins: 9; losses: 15
Points scoredFor: 520; against: 631 (Rd 27)
Team information
CEOTerry Reader
Head CoachWayne Bennett
Captain
StadiumSuncorp 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. attendance22,919 (Round 27)[5]
High attendance51,047 (Round 4) Suncorp Stadium
Low attendance5,130 (Round 22) Salter Oval
Top scorers
TriesJamayne Isaako (24)
(Round 27)
GoalsJamayne Isaako (73 + 2 FG)
(Round 27)
PointsJamayne Isaako (244)
(Round 27)
List of seasons 2024 →

The 2023 Dolphins season was the inaugural season for the Dolphins club in the 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 centre 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]

Dolphins NRL inaugural head coach Wayne Bennett
Dolphins NRL away and home jerseys 2023 (front view)

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

  • Academic Award: Euan Aitken (for continued study in an MBA)
  • Adventure Kings Fan-Voted MVP (Most Valuable Player): Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
  • Arthur Beetson Medal Player of the Year: Jamayne Isaako
  • Best Back: Jamayne Isaako
  • Best Forward: Mark Nicholls
  • Club Person of the Year: Shane Morris (Dolphins' Game Development Manager)
  • Most Consistent: Jamayne Isaako
  • Players' Player: Jamayne Isaako
  • Rookie of the Year: Isaiya Katoa

Player movements

Dolphins NRL jersey on Suncorp Stadium field for inaugural match Sunday 5 March 2023
Dolphins supporters' fin headwear
Emblematic dolphin fins on supporters' heads
NRL Indigenous Round 12
Dolphins jersey 2023 (front view)

All 2023 signings

PlayerPrevious clubLength
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[14]
JJ CollinsTweed Heads Seagulls2023[18]
John-Paul DonevskiPenrith Panthers2024[14]
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[14]
Cody HunterRedcliffe Dolphins2023[26]
Jamayne IsaakoGold Coast Titans2026[27][28]
Ryan JacksonWynnum Manly Seagulls2023[18]
Robert JenningsPenrith Panthers2025[29]
Isaiya KatoaPenrith Panthers2025[30]
Felise KaufusiMelbourne Storm2025[31]
Josh Kerr St George Illawarra Dragons 2025[32]
Brenko LeeBrisbane Broncos2024[33]
Edrick LeeNewcastle Knights2024[15]
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[25]
Radean RobinsonCQ Capras2024[14]
Jeremiah SimbikenRedcliffe Dolphins2025[44]
Ray StoneParramatta Eels2024[45]
Tyler SzepanowskiCQ Capras2024[14]
Hamiso Tabuai-FidowNorth Queensland Cowboys2027[46]
Mason TeaguePenrith Panthers2024[47]
Valynce Te WhareKing Country Rugby Football Union2024[25]
Setu TuRedcliffe Dolphins2023[48]
Jarrod WallaceGold Coast Titans2024[49]
Michael WaqaRedcliffe Dolphins2024[14]

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]

Trial: 4 February 2023 Central Queensland Capras 8–24 Dolphins Gladstone
19:00 AEST
 Tries:
Marshall rugby ball 40'
Roberts rugby ball 53'
 [Report Report]
Tries:
Graham rugby ball 5'
Tu rugby ball 13'
Baira rugby ball 16'
Te Whare rugby ball 21'
Tai rugby ball 45'
Teague rugby ball 67'
 Stadium: Marley Brown Oval
Attendance: 4,500
Round 1: 12 February 2023 North Queensland Cowboys 22–22 Dolphins Cairns
18:00 AEST
 Tries:
Moceidreke rugby ball 11', 79'
Derby rugby ball 17', 32'
Goals:
Duffy 3/5 rugby goalposts icon 17', 27', 37', 51'
Laybutt 0/1
 [Report Report]
Tries:
Bostock rugby ball 7'
Hubner rugby ball 37'
Baira rugby ball 53'
Teague rugby ball 72'
Goals:
Isaako 2/3 rugby goalposts icon 39', 55'
Katoa 1/1 rugby goalposts icon 74'
 Stadium: Barlow Park
Attendance: 6,922
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Round 2: 19 February 2023 Dolphins 16–40 Gold Coast Titans Redcliffe
19:05 AEST
 Tries:
Bostock rugby ball 37'
Lemuelu rugby ball 60'
Donoghoe rugby ball 65'
Goals:
O'Sullivan 1/1 rugby goalposts icon 39'
Isaako 1/2 rugby goalposts icon 66'
Sin bin:
Kaufusi yellow card 44' to 54'
 [Report Report]
Tries:
Khan-Pereira rugby ball 3', 9', 11', 68'
Hutchison rugby ball 17', 24'
Schoupp rugby ball 44'
McIntyre rugby ball 56'
Goals:
Boyd 4/8 rugby goalposts icon 13', 19', 46', 58'
Campbell 0/1
 Stadium: Kayo Stadium
Attendance: 7,216
Referee: Adam Gee

Regular season

2023 Squad

References

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