Who’s Who in 22, Sport: Ben Te’o

Redcliffe Dolphins Hastings Deering Cup Head Coach Ben Te’o not only led his side to a Grand Final in 2022 but has also been rewarded with a full-time job developing young players as the Dolphins enter the NRL.

In October, Dolphins NRL announced its coaching structure which included roles for Te’o and Scott Murray transitioning players from the Queensland Rugby League competitions into the NRL team.

It followed a successful 2022 season for both coaches whose teams played in Grand Finals and who mentored players who now have full, development or train and trial contacts with the NRL squad.

Te’o joined the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2022 as Head Coach of the Hastings Deering Colts side, making his coaching debut after his retirement from playing in 2021.

He was approached by Dolphins NRL Head Coach Wayne Bennett to take on the Colts coaching role as he pondered his future, following Broncos development and pathways chief Kurt Richards to the Dolphins.

It turned out to be a great first step, with Te’o now given the opportunity to take his skills to the next level.

Te’o and Murray will effectively swap teams with Te’o assuming the head coaching role for the Hostplus Cup and Murray returning to lead the Dolphins’ Hastings Deerings Colts team.

Both will move from part-time roles to become full-time coaches for the club as they use their experience to prepare the newest wave of players through the Dolphins’ system.

Te’o will concentrate on the advancement of Redcliffe Dolphins’ Hostplus Cup players, with Rhett Tronc joining the Dolphins to assist with the Hostplus Cup side.

About Ben Te’o

Te’o played 173 NRL games for the Wests Tigers, Broncos and Souths, while making seven appearances for the Maroons and also playing rugby union for the Queensland Reds.

He won an NRL premiership at the Rabbitohs in 2014 and qualified to play international union for England, earning 16 caps.

The former second-rower was born in New Zealand to a Samoan father and English mother, enabling him to play for Samoa in rugby league and England in rugby union.

He debuted with Wests Tigers in 2007, signed with the Brisbane Broncos in 2009 and debuted for Queensland in 2010. He represented Samoa in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Te’o joined Souths in 2013 and left at the end of the 2014 season after which he played rugby union until 2020.

He made his rugby league return with the Brisbane Broncos in 2020 and retired in 2021.