The Dolphins are on the brink of their first preliminary final, having secured a Week 3 clash with the Roosters after a four-season rise from the competition’s periphery. Former NRL star Matty Johns believes the club is on track to become a long-term powerhouse, drawing a comparison to the dominance of the Melbourne Storm in the 2010s.
A stacked roster and a rapid rise
Entering their fourth season, the Dolphins have already finished third in the regular season standings. Johns highlighted the club’s roster depth, pointing to a back line featuring Selwyn Cobbo, Jack Bostock, Herbie Farnworth, and Jamayne Isaako. He noted that the group includes multiple players who could rank in the top three of their respective positions.
The squad features a mix of representative talent and youthful energy, allowing the club to adapt to the increased pace of the modern game. While Isaako is set to move to Melbourne, Tevita Naufahu has signed a two-year extension to secure a starting role on the wing for 2027, aiming to maintain the dominance established by his predecessor.
Johns observed that the Dolphins have a strong pipeline of young talent, with reports suggesting they possess around 40 to 50 players in their pathway system. This foundation suggests a sustainable model for growth, provided the club can secure its key playmakers for the future. Johns further elaborated that the Daily Telegraph recently published a list of the top 100 young players coming through the grades, and the Dolphins had an impressive 40 or 50 players on that list, cementing their status as a powerhouse club.
Challenges ahead
Despite the optimistic outlook, the club faces significant hurdles in retaining its talent. Farnworth is set to enter the open market on November 1 and is considered one of the best players in the world. Keeping such high-caliber players often dictates the ceiling for a team’s success, and the Dolphins must manage a competitive salary cap environment to retain their stars.
The club’s biggest task will be finding a way to hold on to Farnworth, who is set to head to the open market on November 1 this year for a 2028 contract. Johns, accompanied by his Immortal brother Andrew, played alongside each other in a dominant Newcastle outfit during the 1990s, and shared premiership glory in 1997. The Dolphins will be pushing hard to keep Farnworth in Redcliffe, fresh after re-signing Cobbo, to ensure their offensive capabilities remain elite.
If they can deliver a premiership in their fourth season, it will mark an incredible start for the NRL’s 17th franchise, and will no doubt propel conversations for further expansion. Week 3 of the finals will see the Dolphins face the Roosters at Suncorp, while the Panthers will host the Knights in Sydney.