Dolphins reveal NRL CEO and board

The Dolphins have confirmed their new management and governance structure in a key step on their path towards the National Rugby League.

Terry Reader has been announced as the Dolphins’ inaugural NRL Chief Executive Officer after leading the successful bid to become the NRL’s 17th club.

Reader will report to Dolphins Group CEO Tony Murphy, who is nearing four decades with the club. Murphy played for the Dolphins between 1982 and 1986 before moving into football management roles and then into operations, becoming Dolphins Group CEO in 2005 as the club expanded its asset base from $18 million to more than $100 million.

The Dolphins’ NRL operations will be overseen by a new six-member board to be headed by Dolphins Group Chairman Bob Jones. Steve Bleakley and Marlene Newcombe have also been appointed Directors of the NRL club. Another three Directors will be appointed.

Jones also brings to the role his extensive experience at the Dolphins, where he has been a Director of Dolphins Group since 1993. He was a former player and senior coach and has been a life member since 2000 and Chairman since 2011.

“We’re delighted to have a mixture of people who have been with the Dolphins for decades and new faces who will bring great insights as we move into the NRL,” Jones said.

“Steve Bleakley is well known as a former Dolphins player and he has been a Dolphins Group Director since 2007 while Marlene joins us with one of the most decorated business careers in the local region through her ownership of Village Motors. We are thrilled to have Marlene on board.

“Tony Murphy’s role as Group CEO will now include the addition of our NRL team which is fortunate to have Terry Reader as its inaugural CEO. Terry has lived the Dolphins’ NRL dream during the bid process and he is the ideal person to take us into this next phase.

“The Dolphins’ success has been built on astute and responsible management that has placed the needs of our community and stakeholders at the forefront of all that we do. That will continue as we enter the NRL.”

About the NRL CEO

Reader brings extensive sports experience to the Dolphins including as part of the leadership team at the Brisbane Broncos during his 15 years with the club along with time at the Brisbane Lions.

At the Broncos, Reader’s roles included Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Commercial Officer, playing an integral role in organisational change, working with teams to achieve growth within business units exceeding $34 million in annual commercial revenue.

In October 2017, Reader was seconded by the Broncos to the Norths Devils, where he completely restructured the Intrust Super Club in a journey that led to the Devils being named club champions in 2018 before winning the ISC 2021 premiership less than two weeks ago.

Reader linked with the Dolphins in July 2020, working closely with Jones and Murphy to help deliver a successful NRL bid.

“It was a privilege to lead the bid and certainly a great honour to begin this role as CEO as we look to bring the Dolphins NRL club to life and execute the strategies in our bid submission. It certainly is an exciting time for our region and rugby league in Queensland,” Reader said.

“I’ve been fortunate to gain experience from grassroots sport through to the elite level over more than two decades in sport.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with the Dolphins team for the last 16 months as we’ve developed this NRL bid, which opens another door for this very successful club.”

The Dolphins will continue to announce key appointments in the near future as the club prepares for its first NRL season in 2023. That will include the appointment of three new Directors, attaining the skill sets and diversity that will position the club for success.

“The Dolphins have always placed a high priority on having the best available talent to deliver for our stakeholders and we will take that same approach to the NRL,” Murphy said.

“The club has always operated with a long-term outlook and with a commitment to the best performance possible on and off the field. We look forward to this next step.”

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