In their fourth season, the Dolphins have emerged as serious contenders in the National Rugby League (NRL), positioning themselves just one victory away from reaching their first grand final. The Queensland-based expansion club, which entered the competition in 2023, has defied expectations with a rapid rise from newcomers to playoff contenders.
The pivotal moment came three weeks ago when English centre Herbie Farnworth soared to secure a crucial try against the Sydney Roosters, a team that stood in the Dolphins’ path to the championship. Chasing a kick from halfback Isaiah Katoa, Farnworth outjumped Roosters captain James Tedesco, sparking a dominant first-half performance that saw the Dolphins score four tries. This win marked a significant turning point, as it was their first victory over a top-four team since an unexpected 66-0 loss to the Sharks a month earlier.
The Dolphins have steadily built their squad and reputation, combining strategic recruitment with a focus on nurturing young talent. The club’s early leadership under inaugural coach Wayne Bennett, succeeded by Kristian Woolf last season, has been credited with creating stability and a clear succession plan. Their roster includes experienced forwards such as Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, Jesse and Kenny, who have provided a solid platform for the team’s competitive performances.
Meanwhile, young stars like Katoa, regarded as a potential successor to top halfback Nathan Cleary, and a high-powered backline led by fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, alongside Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo, have contributed to what many analysts call the most exciting attacking unit in the competition.
Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader expressed pride in the club’s progress from a modest start in Redcliffe to playing their first home final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. He highlighted the importance of a clear strategy set out during their expansion bid in 2021, which is now paying dividends as the team approaches a grand final berth.
The club’s rapid success is particularly notable given that, unlike some other recent entrants, the Dolphins have not benefited from special salary cap concessions or tax advantages. Their record stands at just one loss shy of 50 wins in 96 NRL matches, placing them alongside the Melbourne Storm’s swift rise, who won the premiership in only their second season.
The Dolphins’ first-ever match was also against the Roosters, a team they remarkably defeated in round one of the 2023 season. Meeting the Roosters again at this critical juncture underscores the club’s dramatic transformation and the growing strength of the Queensland outfit, who have gradually supplanted traditional Brisbane rivals as the city’s leading team.
While some fans remain cautiously optimistic, the Dolphins are firmly in the spotlight, with local support growing rapidly—evidenced by over 4,000 attendees at a recent training session. Meanwhile, Farnworth’s family from Lancashire, England, plan to support him from afar, with holiday plans preventing attendance at the grand final if the Dolphins advance.
The club's achievements to date have set a high benchmark for other new teams awaiting entry, including the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs, signaling a new era of competition in the NRL.