Dolphins’ point-scoring sensation’s vow for 2025
Jamayne Isaako has found scintillating form since arriving at the Dolphins for the 2023 season and plans to ‘keep doing his job’, continue to improve as a player, step up as a leader and give the club its first taste of finals footy.
Isaako’s comments came at the end of today’s tough preseason training session, on a soggy field in stifling humidity, as the squad prepares for a three-day training camp at the Sunshine Coast which starts on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old is expecting the camp to be just as gruelling as preseason training has been so far under new Head Coach Kristian Woolf.
“It’s just a great opportunity for the boys to not only work a bit harder, it’s (also) a great opportunity for the boys to mix and mingle with each other to build some camaraderie between each other … there’s some new faces in the team,” he says.
“Going away to Twin Waters this week will be a good opportunity for the boys to mix and mingle and build combinations.”
It will also be a chance for the club’s new captain to emerge, after inaugural captain Jesse Bromwich’s retirement at the end of the 2024 season.
“There’s a few blokes that are there that are willing to step up and do the job. This week will be a good opportunity for those blokes to step up,” Isaako says.
“I’m not too sure what the coaches have got planned but I’m sure, whatever it is, the blokes who are keen to put their hand up for captaincy will do a good job this week in putting their hand forward.
“What I bring to the team is a lot of energy. I try to bring that to the outside backs. I don’t think Woolfie would be a big fan of having an outside back as captain, so I’ll just try to do my best to try to lead from an outside back point of view.”
There’s plenty of speculation, Tom Gilbert is in the frame after returning to the squad this season following a season-ending knee injury in 2024.
Regardless of who is named the Dolphins’ captain, Gilbert will be among a core group of born leaders who will guide the team as they chase a maiden finals berth.
“He’s a massive part of this team … just the leadership skills he has and brings to the side … there’s a lot of boys in the forward pack and in the entire team who look up to him. Being a younger head as well, having that leadership trait to him … it’s a credit to him,” Isaako says.
Focused on performance
Isaako, who scored 12 tries and kicked 87 goals in the 2024 season to amass 223 points for the season, is focused on what he can do to bring the Dolphins success in 2025.
“I’m just looking to do my job like I have been the last two years … just playing with confidence. Woolfie has certainly been a big part of that in the last two years,” Isaako says.
“I don’t think anything changes for me personally. Being a little bit of an older head in the team now, just bringing the experience that I have to some of the young blokes that we have on the team now.
“I’m really hoping to play finals footy this year. We missed out, going down in the last game against Newcastle.
“It would be nice to play some finals footy this year and be able to give the Dolphins their first taste of playing in the finals. I’m looking forward to trying to get there this year and hopefully give ourselves a good opportunity to try to make the big dance at the end.”
The Dolphins have their first trial game against the Capras in Gladstone in just over three weeks (February 8, 6pm).
They will play the Cowboys in Cairns on February 14 (7pm) as part of the NRL’s Pre-season Challenge.
Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium is expected to be packed when it hosts a double-header in the final round of the Challenge on February 22. The Broncos play the Bulldogs at 4.30pm and the Dolphins take on the Titans at 6.30pm.