Excitement builds among Dolphins fans

AS the Dolphins count down to the start of the 2023 season, a group of diehard fans is mobilising online ready to celebrate every moment.

About five months ago, Daniel Moses of Clontarf, started the Redcliffe Dolphins NRL Fans Facebook Group which now has more than 7000 members and continues to grow.

“I’m a big Dolphins fan and went to all the games last year with my family,” Daniel says.

“I’ve always been into the Dolphins and supported the bid and wanted to get involved and get as many people in the community involved as I could.”

His connection with the club goes back about 15 years.

“It was a team that had good history and good backing and a great club to be involved in. You always feel welcomed at the club and the team is engaged with the fan base,” he explains.

The Dolphins have welcomed interest from fans in the new franchise.

“Because of the 75-year history of the club we were always confident that the Dolphins would have thousands of fans even before our entry to the 2023 competition,” Dolphins’ Chief Executive Terry Reader says.

“We are excited by how passionate the response to the new franchise has been on social media platforms, and see it as just another example of why the area deserves an NRL team.”

Daniel shares his passion for the Dolphins with wife Jodie and their three children. Their son will play his first season of rugby league as an under-14s Dolphin this year.

Daniel says he was ecstatic when he heard the NRL bid had been successful, validating the hard work the board had put in for many years.

The Redcliffe Dolphins NRL Fans Facebook Group page aims to keep fans informed and engaged as they count down to the start of the 2023 season.

“We hope to get a pod at the (Moreton Daily) Stadium where the members can meet and watch the games together,” he says.

“It’s about community engagement and getting involved. There’s a lot of Dolphins supporters out there.”

Bringing fans together

There’s talk of podcasts and the group is already running giveaways with Redcliffe merchandise stockist What’s Your Team.

“I want to give back to members of the page,” Daniel says.

He would love to see a large contingent at Hostplus Cup (Queensland Cup) games this year and it’s a sentiment shared by Burpengary’s Steve DuVal, who has been helping curate content for the page.

“I was Daniel’s most frequent contributor and pretty quickly he asked me to jump on and help him out with content,” Steve explains.

“We’ve never actually met and we live ten minutes away from each other,” he says laughing.

For him, it all started in October, when the Australian Rugby League Commission announced the Dolphins had secured the 17th NRL licence.

“I was just stoked. I played for the Dolphins, not first-grade or anything, and I lived in Redcliffe for 30 years,” he says.

Steve played as a junior from under-7s to under-15s and says his first coach was now Dolphins’ Chairman Bob Jones.

He has also been involved with the club as an assistant coach for juniors previously.

“The main thing is pride,” Steve says.

While he’s been a Broncos member since the team was formed, his allegiances have changed and he says: “they’re dead to me, if they’re playing the Dolphins”.

There is a feeling of anticipation and excitement from members of the fan group, which includes some former players, and a lot of chatter about recruitment.

Steve is keen to have meet-and-greets at Hostplus Cup games and he can’t wait for the first NRL home game at Moreton Daily Stadium – whether that be against the Broncos or Roosters.

“I’m just going to be there, cheering on the boys – whatever happens,” he says.

Top of his Christmas list was Dolphins supporters’ gear, so he’s already showing his colours.

The Dolphins will release a range of membership options in March, that will include a premium Foundation Membership as well as supporter options including a kids’ membership package.

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