2023 Dolphins (NRL) season
2023 NRL rugby league season
The 2023 Dolphins season is historically the inaugural season for the Dolphins club in the professional 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] 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)
2023 Club awards
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
All 2023 signings
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]
Regular season
League table
For the 2023 NRL season , the number of teams increased from sixteen to seventeen with the inclusion of the Dolphins , a fourth Queensland-based club, playing most of their home games at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane .
Result by round
Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Ground H H A H A A H H A N – H H A A – H A A H – A H A A H H Result W W W L L W L W L W B L W L L B L L W L B L L L L L W Position 3 2 2 3 7 4 8 8 9 5 8 6 6 8 11 10 11 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 13 Points 2 4 6 6 6 8 8 10 10 12 14 14 16 16 16 18 18 18 20 20 22 22 22 22 22 22 24
Matches
In 2023, the Dolphins played seven of their twelve home games at the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, one at Sunshine Coast Stadium and the three other at Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe , which also served as a training and administration base.[ 51] Optus Stadium in Perth also hosted one home game. This occurred in Round 23 against the Newcastle Knights during a double-header with the other game being between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks .
Round 6: 7 April 2023
North Queensland Cowboys 22–32
Townsville
20:00 AEST
Tries: Feldt 16' , 38' Hess 51' Holmes 68' Goals: Holmes 3/4 18' , 39' , 52' Sin bin: Hess 26' to 36' Elliot 74' to 80' Report Tries: Isaako 7' , 13' , 30' Tabuai-Fidow 23' , 78' Gilbert 33' Goals: Isaako 4/7 24' , 31' , 35' , 75 (pen)' Sin bin: Nikorima 37' to 47' Stadium: Queensland Country Bank Stadium Adam Gee
Round 9: 29 April 2023
Canberra Raiders 31–30
Wagga Wagga
15:00 AEST
Tries: Croker 1' Wighton 5' Rapana 20' Kris 35' Fogarty 66' Goals: Croker 5/7 7' , 17 (pen)' , 22' , 48 pen' , 67' Field goals: Fogarty 83' Report Tries: Aitken 25' Tabuai-Fidow 30' Lemuelu 57' , 61' Bromwich 71' Goals: Isaako 5/5 27' , 31' , 58' , 62' , 72' Stadium: McDonald's Park
Round 11 (Bye for Dolphins)
Round 15: 9 June 2023
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 58–18
Sydney
20:00 AEST
Tries: Saab 3' , 69' Garrick 7' , 30' , 74' Trbojevic 12' , 45' Croker 15' Koula 50' , 67' Goals: Garrick 9/10 9' , 13' , 16' , 32' , 47' , 51' , 69' , 71' , 76' Report Tries: Isaako 22' Tabuai-Fidow 57' , 79' Goals: Isaako 3/3 24' , 58' , 80' Stadium: 4 Pines Park
Round 16 (Bye for Dolphins) Round 21 (Bye for Dolphins)
2023 Squad
Top 30 squad – 2025 NRL season
Supplementary list
Coaching staff
Extended squad
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Medical professionals
Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Development players[ 52] Extended squad[ 53] Updated: 7 December 2024 Source(s): NRL
References
^ " . Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via nrl.com.^ "Casualty Ward: Moses sidelined; Bateman hamstrung in warm-up" . 7 May 2023.^ "Final Team: Bromwich out, Nicholls to skipper" . 7 April 2023.^ "Final Team: Te Whare to debut at centre" . 6 May 2023.^ "NRL Results & Attendances | Austadiums" .^ "NRL try-scoring and point-scoring record: Jamayne Isaako closes in on historic achievement | Sporting News Australia" . 2 September 2023.^ "Raiders v Dolphins" .^ https://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl-concedes-error-crucial-golden-061105474.html ^ "MSN" . MSN ^ https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-exposed-by-dragons-seventh-tackle-try-debacle-in-dolphins-loss/news-story/164caa6f54359816aa790f5cbeaf2230 ^ https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-nisaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/ ^ "Dolphins sign exiting Warriors star Euan Aitken for foundation side" . 26 May 2022.^ "NRL train and trial list" . 5 November 2022.^ a b c d e f g Patterson, Emily (27 October 2022). "Pre-season taking shape with player return dates set" . amp.nine.com.au . ^ a b "2022 NRL Signings Tracker: Naden joins Wests Tigers; Sivo extends with Eels" . 17 May 2022.^ gates, Zachary (21 January 2022). "Storm co-captain signs with rival NRL club" . wwos.nine.com.au . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ "Kenny Bromwich to join Dolphins in 2023" . 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2023 – via news.com.au.^ a b "Dolphins open up NRL opportunities for two more" . qrl.com.au . 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ McKinney, Max (28 February 2023). "Central Newcastle junior to debut in Dolphins' inaugural NRL match" . newcastleherald.com.au . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ "Ese'ese joins Dolphins engine room" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 29 September 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ "Monster pack builds with Faamausili signing" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 17 October 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ Sargeant, Tom (6 September 2022). "Rabbitohs re-sign 'impressive' young gun; Newcastle lock in Broncos half: Transfer Centre" . foxsports.com.au . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ Bungard, Matt (26 April 2022). "Dolphins sign North Queensland Cowboys forward Tom Gilbert for 2023 season" . wwos.nine.com.au . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ Appleyard, Joe (27 October 2022). "Former Wigan Warriors ace Oliver Gildart on verge of joining NRL club" . examinerlive.co.uk . ^ a b c "NRL 2022: Dolphins, Michael Roberts, Harrison Graham, Valynce Te Whare, 17th team announces young signings for 2023 - NRL" . National Rugby League . 16 December 2021.^ Knight, Kylie (22 July 2022). " . Moreton Daily . Retrieved 6 March 2023 . ^ "Dolphins lure Isaako from Broncos in cross-town switch" . National Rugby League . 22 December 2021.^ "Isaako extends until 2026" . 10 October 2023.^ Pryde, Scott (9 May 2022). "Dolphins strike to sign Panthers back on long-term deal" . zerotackle.com . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ Chisholm, Ed (17 February 2022). "Dolphins confirm signing of teenage Panthers prodigy Isaiya Katoa on a three-year deal" . sportingnews.com . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ Dobbin, Ben and Atkinson, Michael (25 November 2021). "Dolphins land Origin star as first marquee signing" . wwos.nine.com.au . ^ "Kerr coming home to Dolphins in 2023" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023 .^ "Brenko Lee to join cousin as foundation Dolphin" . 23 June 2022.^ Tiernan, Eamonn and St John, Mark (6 April 2023). "NRL 2023 Transfer Centre Connelly Lemuelu signs contract extension" . Retrieved 6 August 2023 . ^ "Panthers re-sign premiership prop on bumper new long-team deal: NRL Transfer Centre" . foxsports.com.au . 3 April 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ "Brayden McGrady" .^ "Milford set to knock back Knights to join rivals" . 17 July 2022.^ Benoiton, Jake (23 January 2022). "Official: Rabbitohs release prop as Bennett strikes" . Zero Tackle . ^ "Kodi coming home to be a Dolphin" . dolphinsnrl.com . 12 January 2022.^ "Niu earns contract extension" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 30 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ "O'Sullivan joins the Dolphins" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 29 June 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ "Exciting utility Plath signs with Dolphins | QRL" . 11 April 2023.^ "Dolphins sign young Kiwi bopper for 2023" . zerotackle.com . 30 November 2022.^ "From the verge of walking away, Simbiken earns NRL contract" . qrl.com.au . 25 August 2022.^ "Eels forward Stone signs with Dolphins" . ESPN.com . 6 December 2021.^ "2023 NRL Signings Tracker: Hunt extends Sharks deal; Montoya, Russell re-sign" . nrl.com . 3 August 2023.^ "Dolphins nab Panthers junior premiership winner for top squad shot" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 4 July 2022.^ "Winger handed shot at NRL dreams with Dolphins" . dolphinsnrl.com.au . 29 July 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023 .^ O'Loughlin, Liam (9 June 2022). "Jarrod Wallace signs two-year deal with the Dolphins" . Sporting News . ^ "Draw" . National Rugby League . Retrieved 10 November 2022 .^ "Dolphins to join NRL in 2023, with Moreton Daily Stadium to host games" . Austadiums . 13 October 2021.^ Development players train with the Top 30 squad but cannot play NRL until after Round 10
^ Players in the extended squad train with the Top 30 squad but are on train and trial or junior contracts
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