_Logo.svg){kind=logo} | |||
| Club information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dolphins | ||
| Colours | Red Gold White | ||
| Founded | 2023 | ||
| Website | dolphinsnrl.com.au | ||
| Current details | |||
| Grounds |
| ||
| CEO | Terry Reader | ||
| Coach | Kristian Woolf | ||
| Captain | Tom Gilbert | ||
| Competition | National Rugby League | ||
| 2025 season | 9th | ||
 Current season | |||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
| Records | |||
| Premierships | 0 | ||
| Runners-up | 0 | ||
| Minor premierships | 0 | ||
| Wooden spoons | 0 | ||
| Most capped | 72 –Jamayne Isaako | ||
| Highest try scorer | 52 –Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | ||
| Highest points scorer | 745 –Jamayne Isaako[1] | ||
TheDolphins are a professionalrugby league football team, based in theRedcliffe Peninsula area of theCity of Moreton Bay (which is part of the greaterBrisbane area ofSouth EastQueensland),[2] that competes in the AustralianNational Rugby League (NRL).
Launched as a bid for inclusion into the NRL byQueensland Cup sideRedcliffe Dolphins in 2020, the Dolphins were granted a separate licence in October 2021 to compete as the national league's 17th side from the2023 season onwards. It is the fourth NRL team in the state of Queensland, including theNorth Queensland Cowboys based inTownsville, and the third team inSouth East Queensland along with theBrisbane Broncos andGold Coast Titans, who were previously the last team to join the NRL competition in 2007.
In 2020, coinciding with the opening of a newMoreton Daily Stadium[3] (known commercially as Kayo Stadium from 7 December 2022),[4] theRedcliffe Dolphins launched a bid on 22 September 2020 for the inclusion of a separate new team in the national competition.
On 13 October 2021, the 17th NRL licence was granted to the Dolphins after they competed for it against two other consortiums (the Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets) also linked to existing Queensland Cup clubs.[5]Wayne Bennett was signed as the NRL team's first head coach.[6] On 26 November 2021, the Dolphins made their first major signing for their 2023 entry, recruitingFelise Kaufusi from theMelbourne Storm.[7] Not long after, he was joined by Storm team mates,Jesse Bromwich (who was named as the Dolphins inaugural team captain in February 2023)[8] and his brotherKenny Bromwich. Although separately licensed, the Dolphins NRL venture is owned by the Redcliffe Dolphins and is its fully professional spin-off club.[9]
In December 2021, it was confirmed thatQueensland Rugby League (QRL) team theCentral Queensland Capras had secured a full affiliation deal with the Dolphins.[10] The Capras and Dolphins deal should see up to six Dolphins NRL players compete for the Capras in the Queensland Cup competition each week.[11] In May 2022, thePNG Hunters announced a strategic pathways partnership with the Dolphins that includes full NRL pre-season participation for four young Papua New Guinean players, beginning in thePNGNRL Digicel Cup, through to the PNG Hunters in the QRL state competition and then directly into the Australian NRL system.[12]
The official brand name of the new club team competing in the NRL from 2023 onwards is 'Dolphins'. Although the official company name of the parent club remains the "Redcliffe District Rugby League Football Club Inc" and the name 'Redcliffe Dolphins' was dropped, the old squad still competing separately in the Queensland state competition remains branded as the "Redcliffe Dolphins".[13][14] TheNRL-bid director for the team (Terry Reader) said in 2021 that they "...had to be careful about how we name it because we don't want to alienate anyone and we want to make sure we have the biggest reach." He added that: "We want to make sure we've got broader appeal and whether that's a more contemporary look and feel, it's because we're a national NRL club and theRedcliffe Dolphins will remain and play in theQ-Cup."[15]
On 7 November 2022, pre-season training for 2023 began.[16] Pre-season trial matches were played against the Central Queensland Capras atMarley Brown Oval inGladstone on 4 February 2023[17] (the Dolphins won 24–8),[18] against theNorth Queensland Cowboys atBarlow Park inCairns on 12 February[19] (the Dolphins drew 22–22),[20] and theGold Coast Titans on 19 February[21][22] at Kayo Stadium (the Titans won 40–16).[23]
The Dolphins' first NRL match was against the Sydney Roosters,[24] against theSydney Roosters[25] was on 5 March 2023 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane to honourrugby league ImmortalArthur Beetson, a former player and coach of both the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Roosters.[26][27][28] The Dolphins won 28–18 in front of a crowd of 32,177 fans.[29][30] Jesse Bromwich captained the side.[31]Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored the Dolphins' first points with a try.[32] Subsequent points were added byMark Nicholls (one try),Connelly Lemuelu (one try) andJamayne Isaako (two tries and four conversion goals).[33] The Artie Legacy Medal for player of the match was awarded to Felise Kaufusi.[34] Prior to NRL Round 7 2023, the combined leading try-scorers for the Dolphins were Jamayne Isaako and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, both on eight tries.[35]
In round 3 of the2023 NRL season,Tesi Niu became the first player in the Dolphins NRL history to score ahat-trick when they defeated theNewcastle Knights 36–20 atMcDonald Jones Stadium.[36] After winning their first three NRL matches,[37] the Dolphins hosted their firstBattle for Brisbane derby in Round 4 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 24 March 2023 and were defeated 18–12[38] by the Brisbane Broncos.[39][38] On Friday 7 April 2023 in the Dolphins' round 6 victory 32–22 against theNorth Queensland Cowboys atQueensland Country Bank Stadium,Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow equalled a 115-year-old NRL record, scoring tries in six straight matches for a new club.[40] In round 8 on 23 April 2023, the Dolphins equalled the greatest comeback in premiership history to defeat theGold Coast Titans 28–26 at Suncorp Stadium, after trailing the Titans 26–0 after the first twenty-six minutes. The record for a winning comeback in premiership history dating to 1908 was set in 1998, when theNorth Queensland Cowboys went from being down 26–0 to defeating thePenrith Panthers 36–28 at full-time.[41]
In Round 9 of the 2023 NRL season, the Dolphins played its firstgolden point game but lost 30–31 to theCanberra Raiders at McDonalds[42] Park,Wagga Wagga.[43] 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.[44] "The NRL's head of footballGraham Annesley said referee Peter Gough was obscured in his view of the knock on, but the sideline officials should have pulled the play up." Nevertheless, Annesley advised that no policy changes could be considered until the current season is over.[45]
In Round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, an illegal try on the seventh tackle of a set was awarded to theSt. George Illawarra Dragons in their 26–12 loss to the Dolphins atKayo Stadium; the decision would not have been overturned even if the Dolphins had lost the game.[46]
By the end of the Dolphins' inaugural season, goal-kicking wingerJamayne Isaako recorded both the highest number of NRL tries and points in the 2023 competition; a feat last achieved byCanberra Raiders goal-kickingcentreMal Meninga in 1990.[47] At the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball held atBrisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in September 2023, Isaako was awarded the Arthur Beetson Medal Player of the Year as well as the Best Back, the Most Consistent, and the Players' Player awards.[48]
In round 15 of the2024 NRL season, the Dolphins achieved their first-ever win in Sydney when they defeated theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30-28 atPointsBet Stadium.[49] After three previous defeats to the Brisbane Broncos, the Dolphins won theBattle for Brisbane derby 40-6 in round 26 on 31 August 2024 at Suncorp Stadium.[50]
In2025, former assistant coachKristian Woolf succeeded Wayne Bennett as head coach. Woolf's first win was in round 5 against theGold Coast Titans atCbus Super Stadium.[51] In round 11 against theNew Zealand Warriors atSuncorp Stadium, referee Peter Gough called "play on" after New Zealand looked to have spilt the ball forward; the next play resulted in a converted try worth six points.[52][53], the Dolphins going on to lose the match by four points. The following week atAccor Stadium, the Dolphins achieved their first ever victory over theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 44-8.[54] Consequently, the Dolphins had recorded wins against every team since entering the NRL competition in 2023. In round 14, the Dolphins recorded their largest win by defeating theSt George Illawarra Dragons 56-6.[55] This largest winning margin was increased to 58-4 against theNorth Queensland Cowboys in round 15.[56] This marked their third consecutive large victory margin win for a combined 158 points in just three rounds. Despite finishing the 2025 season in ninth place and missing the finals, the Dolphins scored the most points (721) of any team in the competition.[57]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Canberra Raiders | 24 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 654 | 506 | +148 | 44 | Advance tofinals series |
| 2 |  Melbourne Storm | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 671 | 459 | +212 | 40 | |
| 3 |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 534 | 414 | +120 | 38 | |
| 4 |  Brisbane Broncos(P) | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 680 | 508 | +172 | 36 | |
| 5 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 599 | 490 | +109 | 36 | |
| 6 |  New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 517 | 496 | +21 | 34 | |
| 7 |  Penrith Panthers | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 576 | 469 | +107 | 33 | |
| 8 |  Sydney Roosters | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 653 | 521 | +132 | 32 | |
| 9 |  Dolphins | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 721 | 596 | +125 | 30 | |
| 10 |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 555 | 534 | +21 | 30 | |
| 11 |  Parramatta Eels | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 502 | 578 | −76 | 26 | |
| 12 |  North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 538 | 684 | −146 | 25 | |
| 13 |  Wests Tigers | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 477 | 612 | −135 | 24 | |
| 14 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 427 | 608 | −181 | 24 | |
| 15 |  St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 498 | 628 | −130 | 22 | |
| 16 |  Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 520 | 719 | −199 | 18 | |
| 17 |  Newcastle Knights | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 338 | 638 | −300 | 18 |
The Dolphins retained the red and white of their Queensland Cup counterparts, with gold added to the colour scheme[58] to avoid a clash with NRL clubSt. George Illawarra Dragons. Otherwise, the 'Redcliffe' name is not being used in an effort to broaden appeal nationally beyond the local region.[5][59]
After a fan vote in July 2022, "Phinny" the Dolphin was confirmed as the club's NRL mascot.[60] Sandy, a companion mascot, was later revealed.[61] During a pre-season training camp, senior players composed a team theme song.[62] Separately, the team catchphrase and hashtag is 'Phins Up' (#PhinsUp).[63]
On 27 October 2021, the Dolphins unveiled a heritage jersey design, inspired by the Redcliffe Dolphins jersey from the 1980s. The design is predominantly red, with white sleeves and a gold trim.[64] On 2 October 2022, the debut home jersey design for 2023 was unveiled just prior to kick-off of the2022 NRL Grand Final atAccor Stadium inSydney.[65] The inaugural away jersey was released on 11 November.[66] Otherwise, the team training shirt is predominantly black in colour.[67]
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| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsors | Back sponsors | Sleeve sponsors | Shorts sponsors | Training ball |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Classic Sportswear[68] | Adventure Kings[69] The Cove[70][65] | BlueBet[71] Foxi Invest[65] | Budget Direct[72] | KFC[65] Ok2Play?[65] | Mitsubishi Electric[73] |
| 2024 | Classic Sportswear | Adventure Kings Alternaleaf | BlueBet AngloAmerican | Budget Direct | KFC Ok2Play? | Mitsubishi Electric |
| 2025 | Classic Sportswear | Adventure Kings | Betr AngloAmerican | Budget Direct | KFC Ok2Play? | Mitsubishi Electric |
In April 2023, Brisbane law firm Gnech and Associates Lawyers joined on an initial two-year agreement as the official Legal Practice Partner of the Dolphins' NRL club.[74] In August 2023, the Dolphins announced global minerAnglo American as "its newest Premier Partner from 2024, as well as the club’s official Mining Partner, and a Community Partner".[75]
We are the Dolphins
The red, white and gold
FromBrissy toCQ
The young and the old
Sing it loud
And put up your phins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
Born ready to win
To make the fans proud
We take on the battle
And light up the crowd
Sing it loud
And put up your phins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins
Sing it loud
And put up your phins
We are the mighty mighty Dolphins[76]
| Top 30 squad – 2026 NRL season | Supplementary list | Coaching staff | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head coach Assistant coaches
Medical professionals
Updated: 25 November 2025 | |||||||||
Pre-season training commenced on 7 November 2022,[65][79] with 7 December designated as the inaugural open training session for fans and the general public to attend.[80] In their first NRL match,[81] the Dolphins defeated the Sydney Roosters 28–18[82] on 5 March 2023 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[26][25]
| Player | Previous club | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Averillo | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2026[121] |
| Herbie Farnworth | Brisbane Broncos | 2026[122] |
| Thomas Flegler | Brisbane Broncos | 2027[122] |
| Oryn Keeley | Newcastle Knights | 2026[123] |
For a list of Dolphins team and individual records since they entered the NRL in 2023:[124]
Statistics after Round 27 2025
| Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 17 |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 |
| Cowboys | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 67 |
| Dragons | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 60 |
| Eels | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 67 |
| Knights | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 17 |
| Panthers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 |
| Rabbitohs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50 |
| Raiders | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40 |
| Roosters | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 20 |
| Sea Eagles | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 |
| Sharks | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 67 |
| Storm | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 25 |
| Tigers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50 |
| Titans | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83 |
| Warriors | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 50 |
Biggest winning margins
Most consecutive wins
Biggest comeback
| Biggest losing margins
|
| Competition | Regular season | Finals progression | Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | Pos. | |||
| 2023 National Rugby League | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 13/17 | — | overview |
| 2024 National Rugby League | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 10/17 | — | overview |
| 2025 National Rugby League | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 9/17 | — | overview |
The Dolphins play most of their twelve home games at the 52,500-capacitySuncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with a few other matches atSunshine Coast Stadium andKayo Stadium,[4] which also serves as a training and administration base.[125] The redevelopment ofBrowne Park inRockhampton may also see occasional Dolphins' games at that venue.[11]
In May 2025, it was announced that the Dolphins would play one home game a year atTIO Stadium inDarwin for the next three years.[126]
Queensland Cup affiliates
Central Queensland Capras
Norths Devils
PNG Hunters
Redcliffe Dolphins
BRL affiliates
Brighton Roosters
Pine Rivers Bears
Regional affiliates
Wide Bay & Bundaberg Region[127]
Mal Meninga Cup (U18),Cyril Connell Cup (U16) and Harvey Norman (U19 girls) affiliates
Central Queensland Capras
Norths Devils
Redcliffe Dolphins
Wide Bay Bulls
Local junior clubs
A list of Junior Rugby League clubs within the Dolphins area. In brackets, JRL teams fielded in 2022.
Albany Creek Crushers (20)
Brighton Roosters (23)
Burpengary Jets (33)
Dayboro Cowboys (13)
Moreton Bay Raiders (14)
Narangba Rangers (23)
North Lakes Kangaroos (21)
Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets (37)
Pine Rivers Bears (19)
Redcliffe Dolphins (45)
Samford Stags (15)
Valleys Diehards (21)
Beachmere Pelicans (3 – U13 & above)
Bribie Island Warrigals (8 – U13 & above)
Caboolture Snakes (13 – U13 & above)
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