The 2023 Dolphins season was the inaugural season for the Dolphins club in the 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 Mal Meninga in 1990.
In Round 9, 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." Otherwise, Annesley advised that no policy changes could be considered until the current season is over.
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.https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-exposed-by-dragons-seventh-tackle-try-debacle-in-dolphins-loss/news-story/164caa6f54359816aa790f5cbeaf2230
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.https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-nisaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/ 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
All 2023 signings Player Previous club LengthEuan AitkenNew Zealand Warriors2024Brenton BairaMackay Cutters2023Tory BathNudgee College2024Jack BostockSt. George Illawarra Dragons2025Jesse BromwichMelbourne Storm2024Kenny BromwichMelbourne Storm2025Bailey ButlerCQ Capras2024JJ CollinsTweed Heads Seagulls2023John-Paul DonevskiPenrith Panthers2024Kurt DonoghoeCentral Newcastle2024Herman Ese'eseGold Coast Titans2023Poasa FaamausiliSt. George Illawarra Dragons2023Trai FullerRedcliffe Dolphins2023Tom GilbertNorth Queensland Cowboys2023Oliver GildartWests Tigers2023Harrison GrahamWynnum Manly Seagulls2023Lachlan HubnerCQ Capras2024Cody HunterRedcliffe Dolphins2023Jamayne IsaakoGold Coast Titans2026Ryan JacksonWynnum Manly Seagulls2023Robert JenningsPenrith Panthers2025Isaiya KatoaPenrith Panthers2025Felise KaufusiMelbourne Storm2025Josh KerrSt George Illawarra Dragons2025Brenko LeeBrisbane Broncos2024Edrick LeeNewcastle Knights2024Connelly LemueluNorth Queensland Cowboys2025Jeremy Marshall-KingCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2025Brayden McGradyNorths Devils2024Anthony MilfordNewcastle Knights2024Mark NichollsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs2024Kodi NikorimaSouth Sydney Rabbitohs2024Tesi NiuBrisbane Broncos2024Sean O'SullivanPenrith Panthers2025Max PlathWynnum Manly Seagulls2025Elijah RasmussenWestlake Boys High School2023Michael RobertsNorthern Rivers Titans2023Radean RobinsonCQ Capras2024Jeremiah SimbikenRedcliffe Dolphins2025Ray StoneParramatta Eels2024Tyler SzepanowskiCQ Capras2024Hamiso Tabuai-FidowNorth Queensland Cowboys2027Mason TeaguePenrith Panthers2024Valynce Te WhareKing Country Rugby Football Union2024Setu TuRedcliffe Dolphins2023Jarrod WallaceGold Coast Titans2024Michael WaqaRedcliffe Dolphins2024
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.
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
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. 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.
2023 Squad
References