Who’s Who in 22, Sport: Steve Bleakley

Former Dolphins player and club stalwart Steve Bleakley has helped drive its transition to the national stage in his role as Dolphins NRL board member in 2022.

It’s been a busy period since the Australian Rugby League Commission awarded the club the 17^th NRL licence on October 13, 2021, following an intense bid process driven by the board and incoming Dolphins NRL CEO Terry Reader.

Since then, the board has appointed Super Coach Wayne Bennett as Head Coach, signed players to build a club for not just its foundation year but also for the future, and recruited an off-field team to support their success.

Players signed include Felise Kaufusi, Tom Gilbert, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Euan Aitken, Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima, Ray Stone and Sean O’Sullivan.

They will be joined by a squad of rising stars who will have the chance to develop their game through the club’s pathways program.

The coaching team is also strong with Bennett at the helm and assistant coaches Kristian Woolf and Nathan Fine to back him up.

Bleakley was appointed to the Dolphins NRL board on October 20, 2021, following his service on the Redcliffe Leagues Club board of directors since 2007.

He has been involved with The Redcliffe District Rugby League Football Club as a player, coach and Football Manager since 1980. He has been a member of the Redcliffe Leagues Club since 1980.

About Steve Bleakley

Bleakley played for Redcliffe from 1980 to 1988, and had a stint with English club, Leeds in 1984-85. He is Dolphin No.251. He captained the 1987 Grand Final side.

A knee reconstruction put an end to his playing career, while he was contracted to another English club, York, in 1989.

On his return to Brisbane, Bleakley became Trevor Day’s assistant coach at Redcliffe. The Crushers recruited him in 1995 to coach their team in the Brisbane competition, and in 1996 he took the Crushers Reserves to the ARL semi-finals.

In November 1996, he was appointed Head Coach of the South Queensland Crushers, replacing Bob Linder for the 1997 ARL Optus Cup season.

He has been a Dolphins Group Director since 2007 and part of key decisions to set the club up for the future and a tilt at the NRL.

These included developing the Dolphins’ health precinct and shopping centre, securing an alternate revenue stream, and the three-stage construction of the club’s stadium called Moreton Daily Stadium.

He was appointed to the Dolphins NRL board of directors in October 2021 along with Bob Jones (chair), Daniel Jones, Tony Murphy, Marlene Newcombe and Terry Webb.

The board has been key in setting the club up for its NRL debut in March 2023.