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Player profiles: Meet your Dolphins NRL team 2023

Published 5:00am 1 February 2023

Words by Kylie Knight

The Dolphins are poised to make their historic NRL debut in the coming weeks, a moment more than 75 years in the making.

Super coach Wayne Bennett and his coaching staff have worked an extended squad hard during the preseason, getting them ready but also bringing the players together as a team. Their first trial game is this weekend against the Central Queensland Capras in Gladstone (February 4, 7pm kick-off).

They will then face the Cowboys in Cairns on February 12 (5pm kick-off), and the Titans at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe, on February 19 (6.05pm kick-off).

The Dolphins' historic round one clash is against the Roosters on March 5 at Suncorp Stadium (3.05pm kick-off).

Grab your jersey and get ready to cheer on your Dolphins NRL team for 2023. See the full draw here

Player profiles

Euan Aitken

Position: Centre/back row

Age: 27

Height: 182cm

Weight: 96kg

About: Born in Pambula, NSW. Debuted for St. George Illawarra Dragons in 2015. Played for New Zealand Warriors 2021-22. Warriors’ Player of the Year in 2022.

Jesse Bromwich

Position: Prop

Age: 33

Height: 194cm

Weight: 114kg

About: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Debuted for the Melbourne Storm in 2010 and has been a one-club NRL player until now. Three-time premiership-winning player, international player for New Zealand and former Storm co-captain.

Kenny Bromwich

Position: Second row

Age: 31

Height: 183cm

Weight: 105kg

About: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Debuted for the Melbourne Storm in 2013 and has been a one-club NRL player until now. Two-time premiership-winning player and international player for New Zealand.

JJ Collins

Position: Prop

Age: 27

Height: 184cm

Weight: 105kg

About: Born in Logan City. Debuted for Wests Tigers in 2016. Also played for Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders.

Herman Ese’ese

Position: Prop

Age: 28

Height: 186cm

Weight: 107kg

About: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Debuted for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2015 and has also played for Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans.

Poasa Faamausili

Position: Prop

Age: 26

Height: 188cm

Weight: 108kg

About: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Debuted for Sydney Roosters in 2018 and has also played for New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons.

Tom Gilbert

Position: Prop

Age: 22

Height: 185cm

Weight: 100kg

About: Born in Brisbane. Debuted for North Queensland Cowboys in 2020 and won the Cowboys’ Club Person of the Year award in 2022. Made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in 2022.

Harrison Graham

Position: Hooker

Age: 21

Height: 177cm

Weight: 83kg

About: Born in Lismore. Debuted for Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2021, impressing the Dolphins with his efforts in the Hostplus Cup. Has played under-18s for Queensland and for the Queensland Universities team.

Jamayne Isaako

Position: Fullback

Age: 26

Height: 180cm

Weight: 95kg

About: Born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Debuted for Brisbane Broncos in 2017, where he played until he joined Gold Coast Titans in 2022.

Robert Jennings

Position: Winger

Age: 27

Height: 185cm

Weight: 107kg

About: Born in Blacktown, NSW. Debuted for Penrith Panthers in 2015 and has also played for South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers.

Isaiya Katoa

Position: Five-eighth

Age: 19

Height: 178cm

Weight: 91kg

About: Born in Wellington, New Zealand. He was playing in Penrith Panthers’ under-19s team in NSW Rugby League’s SG Ball competition when he was signed by the Dolphins on a three-year deal. Has already played Tests for Tonga and has been fast-tracked straight to the club’s top 30.

Felise Kaufusi

Position: Second row

Age: 30

Height: 189cm

Weight: 109kg

About: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Debuted with Melbourne Storm in 2015. Had been a one-club NRL player until he became the Dolphins’ first signing. The two-time premiership winner and Queensland and Australia player is on a three-year deal.

Brenko Lee

Position: Centre

Age: 27

Height: 190cm

Weight: 104kg

About: Born in Brisbane. Debuted for Canberra Raiders in 2014 and has also played at the Bulldogs, Titans, Storm and Broncos. He has also represented Queensland and won an NRL Grand Final with the Storm.

Edrick Lee

Position: Winger

Age: 30

Height: 196cm

Weight: 100kg

About: Born in Brisbane. Debuted for Canberra Raiders in 2012 and has also played for the Sharks and Knights. He has also represented Queensland and been part of the Indigenous All Stars team.

Connelly Lemuelu

Position: Centre

Age: 24

Height: 190cm

Weight: 106kg

About: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Debuted for North Queensland Cowboys in 2020 after spending time in the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs’ NRL systems. In 2022, he transitioned to the forwards as an edge back rower.

Jeremy Marshall-King

Position: Hooker

Age: 27

Height: 186cm

Weight: 83kg

About: Born in Whakatane, New Zealand. Debuted for Wests Tigers in 2017 and has also played for the Bulldogs where he was the club’s Player of the Year in 2022. He represented New Zealand at the World Cup in 2022 and has also played in the World Nines tournament, and alongside brother Benji for the Maori All Stars.

Anthony Milford

Position: Halfback

Age: 28

Height: 177cm

Weight: 90kg

About: Born in Brisbane. Debuted for Canberra Raiders in 2013 and has also played for the Broncos and Knights. He has also represented Queensland, Samoa and played in the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII.

Mark Nicholls

Position: Prop

Age: 33

Height: 194cm

Weight: 104kg

About: Born in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Debuted for Canberra Raiders in 2012 and has also played for the Storm and Rabbitohs (Grand Finalist).

Kodi Nikorima

Position: Halfback/hooker

Age: 28

Height: 174cm

Weight: 82kg

About: Born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, but lived in Brisbane from the age of 12 years. Debuted for Brisbane Broncos in 2015 and has also played for the Warriors and Rabbitohs. Has represented New Zealand and played in the Maori All Stars team.

Sean O’Sullivan

Position: Halfback

Age: 24

Height: 179cm

Weight: 86kg

About: Born in St George, NSW. Debuted for Sydney Roosters in 2018. He has also played for the Broncos, Warriors and Panthers.

Ray Stone

Position: Lock

Age: 25

Height: 180cm

Weight: 95kg

About: Born in Moss Vale, NSW. Debuted for Parramatta Eels in 2018. He played lock for the NSW under-20s State of Origin team in 2017, the same year he played for the Junior Kangaroos. He also represented his country as an Australian Schoolboy.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Position: Fullback

Age: 21

Height: 186cm

Weight: 89kg

About: Born in Cairns. Debuted for North Queensland Cowboys in 2020 and is one of the fastest players in the NRL. He has represented Queensland and can play in the centre or on the wing.

Valynce Te Whare

Position: Centre

Age: 22

Height: 182cm

Weight: 108kg

About: Born in New Zealand. With a background in rugby union, he debuted for the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2022, playing in the Hostplus Cup and becoming an integral part of the team.

Mason Teague

Position: Lock

Age: 19

Height: 179cm

Weight: 93kg

About: Penrith Panthers’ premiership-winning under-19s captain, who played alongside fellow Dolphins’ signing Isaiya Katoa. He graduated to the Panthers’ Jersey Flegg under-21 team before making the move to Redcliffe.

Jarrod Wallace

Position: Prop

Age: 31

Height: 188cm

Weight: 109kg

About: Born on Gold Coast. Debuted for Brisbane Broncos in 2012 before moving to the Titans in 2017. He has also represented Queensland and played in one Grand Final.

Tesi Niu

Position: Fullback/centre

Age: 21

Height: 177cm

Weight: 94kg

About: Born in Brisbane. Represented Tonga in 2019 Great Britain Lions tour, making his international debut. He then played for Tonga 9s in the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s. Debuted for Brisbane Broncos in 2020 and was granted an early release to join the Dolphins in 2023.