2023 Dolphins (NRL) season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
NRL Rank | 13th | |||
Play-off result | DNQ | |||
2023 record | Wins: 9; losses: 15 | |||
Points scored | For: 520; against: 631 (Rd 27) | |||
Team information | ||||
CEO | Terry Reader | |||
Head Coach | Wayne Bennett | |||
Captain |
| |||
Stadium | Suncorp 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. attendance | 22,919 (Round 27) [5] | |||
High attendance | 51,047 (Round 4) Suncorp Stadium | |||
Low attendance | 5,130 (Round 22) Salter Oval | |||
Top scorers | ||||
Tries | Jamayne Isaako (24) (Round 27) | |||
Goals | Jamayne Isaako (73 + 2 FG) (Round 27) | |||
Points | Jamayne Isaako (244) (Round 27) | |||
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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]
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]
In September, the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball was held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the club's annual awards were announced. [11]
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 40' Roberts 53' | Report | Tries: Graham 5' Tu 13' Baira 16' Te Whare 21' Tai 45' Teague 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 11', 79' Derby 17', 32' Goals: Duffy 3/5 17', 27', 37', 51' Laybutt 0/1 | Report | Tries: Bostock 7' Hubner 37' Baira 53' Teague 72' Goals: Isaako 2/3 39', 55' Katoa 1/1 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 37' Lemuelu 60' Donoghoe 65' Goals: O'Sullivan 1/1 39' Isaako 1/2 66' Sin bin: Kaufusi 44' to 54' | Report | Tries: Khan-Pereira 3', 9', 11', 68' Hutchison 17', 24' Schoupp 44' McIntyre 56' Goals: Boyd 4/8 13', 19', 46', 58' Campbell 0/1 | Stadium: Kayo Stadium Attendance: 7,216 Referee: Adam Gee |
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.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 645 | 312 | +333 | 42 |
2 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 639 | 425 | +214 | 42 |
3 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 627 | 459 | +168 | 38 |
4 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 572 | 448 | +124 | 38 |
5 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 626 | 451 | +175 | 35 |
6 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 619 | 497 | +122 | 34 |
7 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 472 | 496 | −24 | 32 |
8 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 486 | 623 | −137 | 32 |
9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 564 | 505 | +59 | 30 |
10 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 587 | 574 | +13 | 30 |
11 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 546 | 542 | +4 | 30 |
12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 545 | 539 | +6 | 29 |
13 | Dolphins | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 520 | 631 | −111 | 24 |
14 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 527 | 653 | −126 | 24 |
15 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 438 | 769 | −331 | 20 |
16 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 474 | 673 | −199 | 16 |
17 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 385 | 675 | −290 | 14 |
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 1: 5 March 2023 | Dolphins | 28–18 | Sydney Roosters | Brisbane | |
20:05 AEST | Tries: Tabuai-Fidow 15' Nicholls 35' Lemuelu 46' Isaako 50', 56' Goals: Isaako 4/5 17', 27', 37', 51' | Report | Tries: Sua'ali'i 10' Hutchison 18' Tupou 66' Goals: Walker 3/3 12', 19', 67' Sin bin: Butcher 62' to 72' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 32,177 Referee: Chris Butler |
Round 2: 11 March 2023 | Dolphins | 20–14 | Canberra Raiders | Redcliffe | |
16:30 AEST | Tries: Tabuai-Fidow 38', 77' Gilbert 62' Goals: Isaako 3/3 39', 64', 78' Sin bin: Marshall-King 33' to 43' O'Sullivan 73' to 80' | Report | Tries: Wighton 13' Cotric 28' Goals: Fogarty 1/2 30' Sin bin: Young 69' to 79' | Stadium: Kayo Stadium Attendance: 10,023 Referee: Todd Smith |
Round 3: 17 March 2023 | Newcastle Knights | 20–36 | Dolphins | Newcastle | |
18:00 AEDT | Tries: Gamble 18' Miller 35', 45' Goals: Hastings 3/3 19', 37', 46' Miller 1/1 69 (pen)' | Report | Tries: Tabuai-Fidow 38', 77' Gilbert 62' Goals: Isaako 3/3 39', 64', 78' Sin bin: Kaufusi 68' to 78' | Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 20,093 Referee: Chris Butler |
Round 4: 24 March 2023 | Dolphins | 12–18 | Brisbane Broncos | Brisbane | |
19:00 AEST | Tries: Wallace 56' Tabuai-Fidow 62' Goals: Isaako 2/2 57', 64' | Report | Tries: Arthars 22' Cobbo 49' Capewell 69' Staggs 77' Goals: Reynolds 1/4 71' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 51,047 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 5: 1 April 2023 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 38–12 | Dolphins | Wollongong | |
17:30 AEDT | Tries: Liddle 18' Lawrie 26' Lomax 41' Hunt 53' Ravalawa 61', 67' Sloan 74' Goals: Lomax 5/7 19', 27', 54', 63', 76' | Report | Tries: Isaako 13' Tabuai-Fidow 71' Goals: Isaako 2/3 14', 38 (pen)' Sin bin: Nicholls 66' to 76' | Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 20,093 Referee: Chris Butler |
Round 6: 7 April 2023 | North Queensland Cowboys | 22–32 | Dolphins | 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 Attendance: 22,811 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 7: 13 April 2023 | Dolphins | 14–36 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Brisbane | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Wallace 1' Marshall-King 33' Goals: Isaako 3/3 3', 28 pen', 35' Sin bin: K. Bromwich 60' to 70' | Report | Tries: Arthars 22', 44' Walker 48' Tass 62' Mitchell 64' Johnston 67' Goals: Mitchell 6/7 23', 46', 50', 58 (pen)', 63', 65' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 23,280 Referee: Ashley Klein |
Round 8: 23 April 2023 | Dolphins | 28–26 | Gold Coast Titans | Brisbane | |
14:00 AEST | Tries: Jennings 33', 64' Nicholls 47' Wallace 50' Aitken 74' Goals: Isaako 4/5 34', 49', 51', 66' | Report | Tries: Randall 14' Liu 18' Fa'asuamaleaui 20' Boyd 26' Goals: Boyd 5/5 8 pen', 16', 19', 22', 28' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 22,034 Referee: Chris Butler |
Round 9: 29 April 2023 | Canberra Raiders | 31–30 | Dolphins | 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 Attendance: 10,445 Referee: Peter Gough |
Round 10: 6 May 2023 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 16–36 | Dolphins | Brisbane | |
17:30 AEST | Tries: Mulitalo 36' Kennedy 38' Wilton 66' Goals: Hynes 2/3 39', 67' | Report | Tries: Katoa 5' Tabuai-Fidow 16' Te Whare 22', 51' Lemuelu 26' Niu 31' Goals: Isaako 6/6 7', 18', 23', 28', 33', 53' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 50,183 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 12: 20 May 2023 | Dolphins | 16–24 | Melbourne Storm | Brisbane | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Isaako 12', 65' Nikorima 73' Goals: Isaako 2/3 67', 74' Sin bin: Kaufusi 1' to 11' | Report | Tries: Warbrick 6' Munster 16' Katoa 31' Smith 35' Goals: Meaney 4/4 8', 18', 32', 36' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 28,325 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 13: 25 May 2023 | Dolphins | 26–12 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Redcliffe | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Isaako 21', 49' Nicholls 24' Wallace 27' Goals: Isaako 5/5 23', 26', 29', 51', 76 (pen)' | Report | Tries: Bird 5' Couchman 39' Goals: Lomax 2/3 4 pen', 40' Sin bin: De Belin 27' to 37' | Stadium: Kayo Stadium Attendance: 10,047 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 14: 3 June 2023 | New Zealand Warriors | 30–8 | Dolphins | Auckland | |
17:00 NZST | Tries: Johnson 5', 53' Metcalf 55' Watene-Zelezniak 68', 71' Goals: Johnson 5/5 67', 74' | Report | Tries: Niu 34' Isaako 76' Goals: Isaako 0/2 Sin bin: Milford 47' to 57' | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 23,686 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 15: 9 June 2023 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 58–18 | Dolphins | 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 Attendance: 28,325 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 17: 24 June 2023 | Dolphins | 20–48 | Parramatta Eels | Sunshine Coast | |
15:00 AEST | Tries: McGrady 3' Tabuai-Fidow 49', 66' Te Whare 55' Goals: Isaako 2/4 50', 67' | Report | Tries: Davey 6' Hopgood 11' Penisini 20', 25' Gutherson 23', 63' Simonsson 31' Russell 38' Goals: Moses 8/8 8', 18', 32', 36' | Stadium: Sunshine Coast Stadium Attendance: 8,821 Referee: Peter Gough |
Round 18: 20 May 2023 | Brisbane Broncos | 24–16 | Dolphins | Brisbane | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Cobbo 7', 68', 77' Farnworth 21', 27' Goals: Reynolds 2/5 23', 70' | Report | Tries: Nikorima 25' Te Whare 50' Marshall-King 63' Goals: Isaako 2/3 26', 64' | Stadium: The Gabba Attendance: 30,606 Referee: Peter Gough |
Round 19: 9 July 2023 | Gold Coast Titans | 21–23 | Dolphins | Gold Coast | |
16:05 AEST | Tries: Foran 27' Sami 31' Kelly 65' Goals: Boyd 4/4 28', 32', 38 (pen)', 67' Field goals: Boyd 78' | Report | Tries: Lemuelu 16' Wallace 47' K. Bromwich 58' Isaako 61' Goals: Isaako 3/5 17', 49', 85 (pen)' Field goals: Isaako 74' | Stadium: Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 18,335 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 20: 16 July 2023 | Dolphins | 14–24 | Penrith Panthers | Redcliffe | |
16:05 AEST | Tries: Nikorima 32' Lemuelu 51' Tabuai-Fidow 55' Goals: Isaako 1/3 53' | Report | Tries: Leota 4' Tago 8', 16' Jenkins 68', 77' Goals: Edwards 2/5 69', 78' Sin bin: Cogger 32' to 42' | Stadium: Kayo Stadium Attendance: 10,065 Referee: Todd Smith |
Round 22: 30 July 2023 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 23–22 | Dolphins | Bundaberg | |
14:00 AEST | Tries: Kikau 25' Burns 31' Averillo 52' Wilson 69' Goals: Burton 3/4 20', 54', 70' Field goals: Burton 39' | Report | Tries: Isaako 16' Milford 56', 78' Te Whare 64' Goals: Isaako 3/4 9 pen', 17', 57' | Stadium: Salter Oval Attendance: 5,130 Referee: Peter Gough |
Round 23: 5 August 2023 | Dolphins | 28–30 | Newcastle Knights | Perth | |
15:30 AWST | Tries: Isaako 12', 65' Nikorima 73' Goals: O'Sullivan 2/2 33', 50' Isaako 2/4 42 (pen)', 74' | Report | Tries: Ponga 11' Mann 35' Hastings 53' Crossland 58' Marzhew 69' Goals: Ponga 5/5 12', 36', 54', 59', 71' Sin bin: Fitzgibbon 22' to 32' | Stadium: Optus Stadium Attendance: 42,042 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 24: 12 August 2023 | Sydney Roosters | 30–14 | Dolphins | Sydney | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Manu 39' Smith 43' Sua'ali'i 51' Hutchison 55', 64' Goals: Sua'ali'i 5/5 39', 45', 52', 56', 66' | Report | Tries: Stone 23' Isaako 74' Goals: Isaako 3/3 25', 35 (pen)', 76' Sin bin: Stone 47' to 57' | Stadium: Allianz Stadium Attendance: 13,704 Referee: Todd Smith |
Round 25: 19 August 2023 | Wests Tigers | 24–23 | Dolphins | Sydney | |
15:00 AEST | Tries: Pole 13' Kepaoa 22' Seyfarth 53' Simpkin 56' Goals: Koroisau 4/5 15', 24', 58', 76 (pen)' | Report | Tries: Isaako 17' Aitken 26' Bostock 43' Fuller 62' Goals: Isaako 3/5 18', 64', 67 (pen)' Field goals: Isaako 74' | Stadium: CommBank Stadium Attendance: 9,245 Referee: Ben Cummins |
Round 26: 25 August 2023 | Dolphins | 10–34 | North Queensland Cowboys | Brisbane | |
20:00 AEST | Tries: Isaako 62', 71' Goals: Isaako 1/2 63' Sin bin: Kerr 27' to 37' | Report | Tries: Laybutt 10', 34' Feldt 14' Drinkwater 16' Taulagi 55' Hiku 65' Goals: Drinkwater 5/6 11', 16', 18', 35', 67' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 33,449 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
Round 27: 2 September 2023 | Dolphins | 34–10 | New Zealand Warriors | Brisbane | |
15:00 AEST | Tries: Bostock 7' O'Sullivan 23' Katoa 25' Isaako 39' Plath 65' K. Bromwich 78' Goals: Isaako 5/6 9', 24', 27', 67', 79' | Report | Tries: Lussick 57' Montoya 59' Goals: Pompey 1/2 59' | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 35,438 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
Kenneath Bromwich is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL), and New Zealand at international level.
Mark Nicholls is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Nathan Brown is an Italian international rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Apisai Koroisau is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker and is the captain of the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has also represented New South Wales in the State of Origin series.
Robert Jennings is a Tongan international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger and centre for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Cody Walker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth and fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
JJ CollinsnéFelise is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Dolphins as a prop in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Joseph Manu is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, fullback, winger or five-eighth for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), and New Zealand at international level.
Tom Opacic is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Hull Kingston Rovers in the Betfred Super League.
The 2018 NRL season was the 111th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 21st season run by the National Rugby League. The main competition, known as the 2018 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, featured 16 teams playing 25 weekly rounds of matches from March until September, resulting in the top eight teams playing a series of finals matches to determine which two teams reached the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
Jamayne Isaako is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a goal-kicking winger for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). At the 2023 Dally M Awards, Isaako received the Ken Irvine Medal for being the "Top Tryscorer of the Year". He was also the "Top Pointscorer of the Year", and named as Best Winger of the Year along with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from the New Zealand Warriors.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, also known by the nickname of "Hammer", is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Jaxson Paulo is a Samoa international rugby league footballer from New Zealand who plays as a winger for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Tyson Smoothy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has previously played for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL.
The Dolphins are a professional rugby league football team, based in the Redcliffe Peninsula area of the City of Moreton Bay, that competes in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL).
The 2023 NRL season was the 116th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 26th season run by the National Rugby League. The season consisted of 27 competition rounds, the longest in league history, followed by a finals series contested by the top eight teams on the competition table. The Penrith Panthers were the 2023 minor and major premiers.
Valynce Te Whare is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who primarily plays centre for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has also played for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Hostplus Cup (QRL) state competition.
The 2023 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 29th in the club's history. Coached by Todd Payten and captained by Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend, they competed in the NRL's 2023 Telstra Premiership but did not qualify for the finals.
Isaiya Katoa is a New Zealand born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).