Finals countdown for Dolphins

Dolphins will kick-off their fourth NRL campaign with finals football firmly in their sights.

Coach Kristian Woolf says they have a stronger, deeper squad working “really hard” in preseason to target a top eight finish.

Newcomers Morgan Knowles, Selwyn Cobbo and Brad Schneider have impressed the coach, while having props Thomas Flegler and Tom Gilbert back is a major boost.

It leaves Woolf with a “lot of belief in the squad” and “excited about the personnel and talent we can put on the field” this season.

“We obviously want to get the opportunity to play finals,” he said, “that means we have improved every year and that’s what we need to be aiming for.”

Dolphins missed the finals by just two points last season when injuries hit leaving them ninth, after finishing 13th and 10th in 2023 and 2024.

“We have high expectations of ourselves. That hasn’t changed. It’s up to us to go and make it happen,” Woolf said.

“We’ve built strength and depth. We have great academy. But we have to make sure we do the hard work to reach our potential.”

One focus in preseason has been areas the coach says Dolphins “need to improve to help us be a better footy team”. But he is “relatively happy where we are at.”

Woolf says new second rower Morgan Knowles, signed from Super League side St Helens, is “one of the toughest and hardest working player” he’s worked with.

“Morgan’s exactly what I thought he’d be,” the coach said, “he has a unique blend of skill and great through the preseason. Led from the front.

“It’s extremely hot compared to what he’s used to. He’s still adjusting but done really well.”

Winger Selwyn Cobbo has “come in fit and showing he wants to make it (move to Dolphins from Broncos) work”, said Woolf.

“He’s exciting and brings something a bit different. He’s got a bit of x-factor about him. What’s impressed me are his footy smarts. He’s going to make a good impact for us.”

Half back Brad Schneider, signed from Penrith Panthers, has brought a “winning culture from a winning team”, Woolf said.

“He trains really well, he’s nice and fit and works hard on his game. He knows what impact he can make. Just as importantly, he’s a really good positive bloke around the group.”

Joining them are forwards Flegler and Gilbert, back from injury after missing a combined 31 months in the last two years. But hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, centre Jack Bostock and props Max Plath and Daniel Saifiti are still sidelined.

“Avoiding the injuries this year would be great,” Woolf said. “We know we have a good squad and good depth, but I’d like to get our best team on the field a little more consistently.

“We definitely need to improve our consistency in defence. Some of our wins (last season) over teams like Penrith, Melbourne, Cowboys … those games around mid-year we were playing really well against teams also playing really well.

“Our defence was every bit what we wanted it to be. We certainly fell away at the back end of the year. Injuries had an impact, but we want to be more consistent there.

“I think supporters will see a difference this year. Guys who are almost like new players, like Tom Gilbert and Tom Flegler, add a lot to us, work ethic, toughness, defensive resolve.

“But I also think you will see a lot of the same in terms of we don’t want to change one bit of our attack.

“I love the way we go after games and back ourselves with our attack. We play a little different to other teams and probably play a little bit more footy than other teams.”

Images Courtesy of Dolphins NRL