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Now that some Kalyn Ponga magic and a sterling defensive effort from the Newcastle Knights have consigned the Dolphins to a 10th-placed finish, it’s time to evaluate the club’s second season and its final one under foundation coach Wayne Bennett.
11 wins and 13 losses places the Dolphins firmly in the middle of the pack in 2024, with their eventual 10th-place finish being a jump of three places and two wins compared to their debut season. A whopping 110-point improvement in for and against is possibly a better reflection of a season that saw fewer blowouts and both attack and defence heading in the right direction.
Both seasons saw a strong start before a late fade that tumbled the club out of finals contention. After Round 14 in 2023, the Dolphins had seven wins and sat in eighth place. In 2024 they sat in fourth after Round 14, however, this is slightly misleading as they still only had seven wins (but had received an extra bye). All up, this means that 2023 and 2024 both featured a similar fade-out. This is something for incoming coach Kristian Woolf to address in the off-season.
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The Dolphins only suffered four losses by 20 points or more in 2024, and had an average losing margin of just over 12. They lost eight times by a margin of eight points or less and, like many sides who just missed the finals, the inability to close out close games hurt them in the end. To make matters worse the Dolphins led by 14 in consecutive weeks over Rounds 20 and 21 and failed to close out either game.
The attacking game was a definite improvement in 2024, due to a strong back five and career-best form from Kodi Nikorima. The club scored at least 25 points in 16 of 24 games for the season, including three of their four biggest wins, to give their fans plenty of excitement. Unfortunately, that attacking form deserted them when it mattered most, being held to just six points in two of their last three matches. However, as a club the Dolphins are still yet to be held scoreless in a match.
In a strange stat, the Dolphins won just one and lost seven daytime matches.
Adam Elliott celebrates a try with teammates after scoring. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
The Dolphins used 28 players for the season, equal lowest in the competition for 2024. Jamayne Isaako was the only player to appear in all 24 matches, which means he has appeared in every game in the Dolphins history to date.
The Phins suffered long term injuries to Tom Flegler (four appearances), Tom Gilbert (zero appearances), Jeremy Marshall-King (17 appearances) and Euan Aitken (15 appearances).
For the second year running, the Dolphins forwards were hurt by significant injuries. Rep player Tom Flegler is no certainty to return and the heart of the club Tom Gilbert has now basically missed two whole seasons. Euan Aitken was in great form as well before his season-ending pectoral injury.
Yet the most significant long-term loss may well have been JMK who sparks so much good that happens with the Dolphins’ shape and decision making. They will all be hoping for a better run in 2025. The other notable point here is that it has been the younger forwards suffering the injuries, which has left the tiring veterans to close out each season, and that has been reflected in late season fade-outs.
The Dolphins unearthed three stars in 2024, which should stand them in very good stead.
Jack Bostock added some bulk to his frame and went from four anonymous appearances in 2023 to 23 games and 14 tries in 2024, as well as spirited running and a truly dangerous aerial presence. Incidentally, Bostock is still listed as a centre in his club profile. I think that bird has flown.
Max Plath went from ‘bit part’ player to the soul of the club in a single season. Plath played 21 games in 2024 and averaged over 42 tackles per game at 95 per cent tackle efficiency. He took over the lock position after the loss of Tom Gilbert and then seamlessly transitioned to hooker in Round 19 to cover Marshall-King. State of Origin is only a matter of time.
And then there was Trai Fuller. The fact that the Hammer is an acknowledged superstar fullback but eventually had to be moved just to get Fuller into the side says it all. The 2023 Queensland Cup player of the year was irresistible in 2024. In just 11 appearances, he averaged 184 metres and made 67 tackle busts. If he was 15 cm taller he’d be a champion.
Incidentally, here are some other past winners of the QLD Cup player of the year: Jamal Fogarty, Cody Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans and Greg Inglis. Not a bad place for recruiting…
By the end of the season, the Dolphins had a settled and potent back five – Hammer, Isaako, Farnworth, Averillo and Bostock were as dangerous as any in the competition despite consisting of three rejects from other clubs, one rookie and an Englishman. Even so, the line-up had to be adjusted to accommodate the talents of Trai Fuller. With all six locked in until at least the end of 2026, expect this line-up to continue to flourish.
The Dolphins are a genuine superstar half short of challenging for the top four. Hopefully, Isaiya Katoa becomes that player. Despite an improved 2024, he definitely fatigued mentally down the final straight, but his kicking game is undoubtedly top shelf. Kodi Nikorima had a career-best season, but whether this continues remains to be seen. Sean O’Sullivan has a definite ceiling and Jake Averillo is more a three-quarter back, so questions will remain. Hopefully Katoa comes out of the blocks well next season.
JMK is vital to this team and an injury-free season will be on Phins fans’ wishlists. Max Plath has developed into a more than adequate fill-in, but after that the cupboard is bare.
Herbie Farnworth, Max Plath and Sean O’Sullivan celebrate a try. (Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)
At the back, the Hammer vs Fuller question has potential to become distracting, so hopefully the club picks and sticks over the off-season. Fuller has the better qualities on kick returns and brilliant carries through traffic as well as playing well above his weight in defence. Hammer is underrated defensively and is much less of a target for opposing kickers, while in attack he is… the Hammer.
Too old, too slow. But they fought to the end. Losing two players approaching their prime and having to rely on veterans and even a late Tevita Pangai Junior cameo came back to bite them. Unfortunately, Josh Kerr could not be relied on and the depth of size-forwards was wanting. Not many teams can lose four of their starting pack and survive and the Dolphins were no different.
The Dolphins averaged over 26,000 in home games at Suncorp, plus they played three sold-out games at the 10,000-capacity Kayo Stadium. They also drew nearly 21,800 away, with big crowds for the Broncos and Magic Round, partly offset by playing in front of 6,000 in Bundaberg and 11,000 in Darwin. Playing the Broncos twice per season is not going away anytime soon, with over 96,000 attending the Battles of Brisbane. Overall the Dolphins ranked fifth for crowds (home and away).
Over 35,000 members is also pretty good going after just two seasons.
There is no doubt that the Dolphins gained more than they lost in 2024. Their big three recruits of Flegler, Farnworth and Averillo were two-thirds successful and Herbie in particular improved markedly as the season went on. If Flegler (and Tom Gilbert) can get back on the field in 2025, that will be like two new Origin-level recruits.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira is tackled by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki from the Cowboys will replace Rabbitohs-bound Euan Aitken and will definitely challenge for a start. Junior Tupou from the Tigers will add some depth, probably leading to one or more of Tesi Niu, Edrick Lee and Robert Jennings being shown the door.
Flegler (hopefully) and Gilbert will be like new recruits.
Unless an Origin-level half suddenly comes onto the market, the Dolphins should be targeting one or two quality middles to replace veterans Jesse Bromwich, Jarrod Wallace and TPJ and ensure too much responsibility isn’t put on the shoulders of remaining elder statesmen Mark Nicholls, Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi.
The good news is this selection of players are locked in until at least the end of 2027: Hammer, Katoa, Bostock, JMK, Plath, Flegler and Gilbert. In addition, Fuller, Nikorima, Farnworth and Averillo are signed until the end of 2026. That has the makings of a quality squad for a few years yet.
Given their Fuller experience, it is hoped that the Dolphins continue to be open to mature and quality Queensland Cup players as options.
For the manner in which is happened, the adversity that preceded it and the significance of the rivalry, the 40-6 destruction of the Brisbane Broncos to knock them out of finals contention was the obvious highlight. I caught Covid on the way home, but it was so worth it!
Back-to-back tight wins over eventual finals teams the Cowboys and Manly in Rounds 9 and 10 were also significant, plus there was a tight win away to Cronulla, which is not an easy road trip.
Overall, the Dolphins only had those three wins over top-eight sides, but also went within six points of the Roosters and the Storm and were sunk by a Nathan Cleary 40-metre field goal against the Panthers.
We will miss you, Mr Eastwood. The Hall of Fame coach took a team that some pundits were predicting to not even win a game in 2023 to within a few weeks of finals. In 2024 it was within 80 minutes. He has built a foundation for the future.
Let’s hope that the highly credentialed Kristian Woolf can overcome the post-Bennett curse.
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