Player profiles: Meet your Dolphins NRL team 2023
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.