The Dolphins are a professional rugby league football team that have competed in the National Rugby League (NRL) since 2023. Based in Redcliffe, the Dolphins play most of their home games at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. In their fourth season, the Dolphins finished third on the ladder and qualified for the 2026 finals series for the first time.

The Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in 1947 and currently play in the Queensland Cup. Redcliffe had long held ambitions of competing at the national level. In 2007, the club successfully sued a Gold Coast NRL bid to prevent it from taking the name "Dolphins". In 2020, the NRL announced that a 17th side would be entered into the competition. The bid led by Redcliffe was announced as the winner in 2021, and the Dolphins played their inaugural NRL season in 2023, finishing in 13th position. The NRL Dolphins operate under a separate license to the Redcliffe Dolphins. The two teams share Kayo Stadium, but have separate team logos and colours (the Queensland Cup side colours are red and white, while the NRL team's colours are red, white and gold).

Officially, the Dolphins represent the northern corridor of Brisbane and South East Queensland, including the Moreton Bay Region and the Sunshine Coast.

The Dolphins are the third NRL team to be based in South-East Queensland, including the Brisbane Broncos (with whom they compete in the Battle for Brisbane), and the Gold Coast Titans (who were the last team to join the NRL before the Dolphins). They are the fourth Queensland NRL side, including the North Queensland Cowboys.

History In 2020, coinciding with the opening of a new Moreton Daily Stadium (known commercially as Kayo Stadium from 7 December 2022), the Redcliffe Dolphins launched a bid on 22 September 2020 for the inclusion of a separate new team in the national competition.

Granting of NRL licence (2021) 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. Wayne Bennett was signed as the NRL team's first head coach. On 26 November 2021, the Dolphins made their first major signing for their 2023 entry, recruiting Felise Kaufusi from the Melbourne Storm. Not long after, he was joined by Storm team mates, Jesse Bromwich (who was named as the Dolphins inaugural team captain in February 2023) and his brother Kenny Bromwich. Although separately licensed, the Dolphins NRL venture is owned by the Redcliffe Dolphins and is its fully professional spin-off club.

In December 2021, it was confirmed that Queensland Rugby League (QRL) team the Central Queensland Capras had secured a full affiliation deal with the Dolphins. The Capras and Dolphins deal should see up to six Dolphins NRL players compete for the Capras in the Queensland Cup competition each week. In May 2022, the PNG 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 the PNGNRL Digicel Cup, through to the PNG Hunters in the QRL state competition and then directly into the Australian NRL system.

Wayne Bennett era (2023–24) On 7 November 2022, pre-season training for 2023 began. Pre-season trial matches were played against the Central Queensland Capras at Marley Brown Oval in Gladstone on 4 February 2023 (the Dolphins won 24–8), against the North Queensland Cowboys at Barlow Park in Cairns on 12 February (the Dolphins drew 22–22), and the Gold Coast Titans on 19 February at Kayo Stadium (the Titans won 40–16).

The Dolphins' first NRL match was against the Sydney Roosters on 5 March 2023 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane to honour rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson, a former player and coach of both the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Roosters. The Dolphins won 28–18 in front of a crowd of 32,177 fans. Jesse Bromwich captained the side. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored the Dolphins' first points with a try. Subsequent points were added by Mark Nicholls (one try), Connelly Lemuelu (one try) and Jamayne Isaako (two tries and four conversion goals). The Artie Legacy Medal for player of the match was awarded to Felise Kaufusi. 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.

In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, Tesi Niu became the first player in the Dolphins NRL history to score a hat-trick when they defeated the Newcastle Knights 36–20 at McDonald Jones Stadium. After winning their first three NRL matches, the Dolphins hosted their first Battle for Brisbane derby in Round 4 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 24 March 2023 and were defeated 18–12 by the Brisbane Broncos. On Friday 7 April 2023 in the Dolphins' round 6 victory 32–22 against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow equalled a 115-year-old NRL record, scoring tries in six straight matches for a new club. In round 8 on 23 April 2023, the Dolphins equalled the greatest comeback in premiership history to defeat the Gold 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 the North Queensland Cowboys went from being down 26–0 to defeating the Penrith Panthers 36–28 at full-time.

In Round 9 of the 2023 NRL season, the Dolphins played their first golden point game but lost 30–31 to the Canberra Raiders at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga. 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." Nevertheless, Annesley advised that no policy changes could be considered until the current season is over.

In Round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, 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.NRL exposed by Dragons’ seventh tackle try debacle in Dolphins loss May 27, 2023

By the end of the Dolphins' inaugural season, 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 Mal Meninga in 1990. At the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball held at the Brisbane Convention & 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.

In round 15 of the 2024 NRL season, the Dolphins achieved their first-ever win in Sydney when they defeated the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30–28 at PointsBet Stadium. After three previous defeats to the Brisbane Broncos, the Dolphins won the Battle for Brisbane derby 40–6 in round 26 on 31 August 2024 at Suncorp Stadium.

Kristian Woolf era (2025–)

In 2025, former assistant coach Kristian Woolf succeeded Wayne Bennett as head coach. Woolf's first win was in round 5 against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium. In round 11 against the New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp 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. The Dolphins lost the match by four points. The following week at Accor Stadium, the Dolphins achieved their first ever victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 44–8. 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 the St George Illawarra Dragons 56–6. This largest winning margin was increased to 58–4 against the North Queensland Cowboys in round 15. 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, and the most of any non-finals team in the history of the NRL, surpassing the 2001 Melbourne Storm.

In the 2026 NRL season, the Dolphins won eight consecutive matches over two separate periods (1 May – 27 June and 19 July - 12 September). In round 24, Jamayne Isaako scored 1000 club points for the fewest NRL games (93); this broke the 1981 record (98) of Michael Cronin (Parramatta Eels).https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-manly-sea-eagles-dolphins-results-jamayne-isaako-breaks-scoring-record-video-highlights-20260814-p60ojd.html At the end of the regular season, the Dolphins finished third on the competition ladder and qualified for their first finals berth. On 12 September, they defeated the New Zealand Warriors 26-16 at Go Media Stadiumhttps://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2026/finals-week-1/warriors-v-dolphins/. They proceeded to their first preliminary final, which they lost 20-36 against the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on 25 Septemberhttps://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/draw/nrl-premiership/2026/finals-week-3-dolphins-v-roosters/, ending their second eight-game winning streak and the season. 2026 ladder

Team name The official name of the NRL club is Dolphins. No geographic location is specified. Director of the NRL bid and inaugural club CEO 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 the Redcliffe Dolphins will remain and play in the Q-Cup." In 2026, Reader declared that the Dolphins are "proud to be" based in Redcliffe, which is the team's "spiritual home" and said that they are also "Brisbane's team" because the Dolphins have a heritage in the Brisbane Rugby League that predates the creation of the Brisbane Broncos, who were created as a "manufactured expansion side".

Colours and mascot

The Dolphins retained the red and white of their Queensland Cup counterparts, with gold added to the colour scheme to avoid a clash with NRL club St. George Illawarra Dragons.

After a fan vote in July 2022, "Phinny" the Dolphin was confirmed as the club's NRL mascot. Sandy, a companion mascot, was later revealed. During a pre-season training camp, senior players composed a team theme song. Separately, the team catchphrase and hashtag is 'Phins Up' (#PhinsUp).

Jerseys 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. On 2 October 2022, the debut home jersey design for 2023 was unveiled just prior to kick-off of the 2022 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The inaugural away jersey was released on 11 November. Otherwise, the team training shirt is predominantly black in colour.

Sponsors and kit manufacturers Year Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsors Back sponsors Sleeve sponsors Shorts sponsors Training ball 2023 Classic Sportswear Adventure KingsThe Cove BlueBetFoxi Invest Budget Direct KFCOk2Play? Mitsubishi Electric2024Classic SportswearAdventure Kings AlternaleafBlueBet AngloAmericanBudget DirectKFCOk2Play?Mitsubishi Electric2025Classic SportswearAdventure Kings Wahl AustraliaBetr AngloAmericanBudget DirectKFCOk2Play?Mitsubishi Electric2026Classic SportswearBudget Direct Wahl AustraliaBetr AngloAmericanBudget DirectKFCOk2Play?Mitsubishi Electric