The thing about a club launching its inaugural season is that there’s little to no expectations.
And that’s exactly how star Dolphins recruit Kenny Bromwich likes it.
“I prefer flying under the radar, laying low and getting the work in, then when it’s on, it’s on,” he told foxsports.com.au.
Bromwich, who signed with the Dolphins after his older brother Jesse did, has walked away from one of the top clubs in the competition to join a team that many are tipping for the wooden spoon.
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The 31-year-old won two premierships with the Storm and played finals in all 10 of his seasons there.
He left a faultless system for the unknown — but is confident he made the right decision.
“To be honest I’ve never looked at this decision as a risk, I’ve always looked at it as a challenge,” Bromwich said when asked if it was a risk to leave the Storm.
“We know what sort of a challenge we have on our hands, starting from the ground up and trying to come into this competition and compete with the best of them. It’s definitely a challenge but I don’t find any of that risky.
“We had a pretty tough few days at (pre-season) camp and when we finished I looked around and saw all the boys we’ve got, I know the boys are going to dig in and have a red-hot crack.”
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Felise Kaufusi — also a former Storm player — shares the same sentiment.
“I look at (joining an expansion club) as a challenge I want to take up. I want us to make finals, I didn’t come here to lose or be another franchise,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“Finishing at least in the top eight is my goal.
“But in saying that I know it’s challenging, everything is new and we have to start with the basics as a team where other teams are pretty established. But that’s all part of it.”
Jesse Bromwich conceded to foxsports.com.au that joining the Dolphins from the Storm is a “big change” but it “has been really enjoyable.”
“I think the biggest difference is that everything is brand new, a lot of learning like defence structures, the names of all our moves, coming up with the moves — having to do that stuff has been really different,” he said.
“It’s been eye-opening but it’s been good. I feel refreshed coming up here and helping out the younger guys.”
Bromwich was a big coup for the Dolphins. The 34-time New Zealand international is held in such high regard that Storm coach Craig Bellamy asked him to give the club
“another week” to come up with a counteroffer.
But for 33-year-old, the opportunity to be a part of history was simply too good to pass up.
“100 per cent (the chance to be an inaugural player was a draw card) that was most definitely something,” he said.
“Down in Melbourne we talked about the history of the club, all the inaugural squad members and all the old boys.
“I know the Dolphins have a huge history and I’m willing and eager to learn about that but to be the first NRL side to run out for the club is going to be a really special feeling.”
Read on for foxsports.com.au’s season preview for the Dolphins.
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STRENGTH
Wayne Bennett. If there’s any man cut out for leading a club in its inaugural season it’s Bennett. The 73-year-old guided the Broncos in their first season (1998) and turned the club into an absolute powerhouse. With seven premierships to his name and a reputation as the game’s best man manager, the Dolphins can breathe easy knowing one of the all-time great coaches is at the helm. Kaufusi told foxsports.com.au that playing under “the greatest coach of all” was a big draw card for him.
Meanwhile, Jesse Bromwich chose to leave the Storm after getting “a feeling” during his meeting with Bennett.
“No disrespect to anyone down in Melbourne, but the feeling I had outweighed anything I sort of thought at the time. Wayne just worked his magic on me I guess,” the Dolphins skipper told foxsports.com.au.
Bennett also won over dynamic fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow instantly.
“The way he speaks, you can tell he really cares… He’s one of the legendary coaches,” he said.
And veteran prop Jarrod Wallace wanted to be a Dolphin as soon as Bennett was announced as coach.
“I literally sent my manager a photo of Wayne signing saying ‘if you don’t get me there I’m going to fire you’,” Wallace revealed to foxsports.com.au.
Sure, the Dolphins have had their issues landing a big fish for 2023 but the club would have found it even harder to recruit if they didn’t have Bennett.
His ability to bring a playing group together is unmatched and that no doubt came in handy when 30-odd players from 12 NRL clubs turned up for their first day of pre-season.
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WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
Anthony Milford. The playmaker has struggled to live up to expectations over the last few seasons but there’s a belief that reuniting with Bennett could help him rediscover his mojo. Milford’s time at Red Hill ended on a sour note when the Broncos informed him in 2021 that he wouldn’t be re-signed.
The Rabbitohs pounced and Milford agreed to a one-year deal in what shaped as an opportunity to finally play without the pressure of a $1 million salary on his shoulders. But criminal proceedings due to assault charges — which were later dropped — stopped his contract from being registered.
The Knights came knocking mid-season and while he had some promising moments, it wasn’t a match made in heaven. Milford was a better player under Bennett and with their reunion comes expectation that he’ll deliver — especially when he’s the club’s most experienced spine player.
At 28-years-old Milford is entering the prime of his career as a five-eighth and with no big-money tag associated to his name this is his opportunity to get back to the form that made him a milliondollar player in the first place. If he doesn’t, there’s a young talent named Isaiya Katoa that proved over the trial period that he’s ready to go.
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THE RISING STAR
Isaiya Katoa. The teen prodigy is almost certain to feature at some point in the season. Katoa’s name has been in a lot of headlines for an 18-year-old that’s yet to make his NRL debut but that’s what happens when you’re one of the most sought-after Schoolboy talents in the country. The Dolphins won the race for Katoa’s signature and the Panthers were so furious they dropped him from all lower grade teams — and then recalled him later in the season. Katoa, who also made his international debut for Tonga last year, carved up for Penrith in his New South Wales Cup debut and a couple of weeks later kicked the matchwinning goal in the club’s Jersey Flegg grand final win. He made an instant impression on his Dolphins teammates with Kodi Nikorima telling foxsports.com.au: “He’s got it.”
Wallace believes the young half is “going to be fantastic” after witnessing his skill at training.
“His natural ability is outrageous, the way he takes the line on, his footwork — you really don’t know what he’s going to do,” he said.
“He hasn’t even played an NRL game yet but he leads the team around like he’s played 50.”
It was expected that Milford would partner Sean O’Sullivan in the halves, but Katoa outplayed the veteran five-eighth in the Dolphins’ second trial. Bennett now has a big selection call to mull over ahead of Round 1.
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Brenko Lee and Connelly Lemuelu. Lee has battled injuries over the last couple of seasons, playing just four games — all in Queensland Cup — in 2021 and 14 games over both grades in 2022. A calf injury during pre-season also impacted his start with the Dolphins. He featured in the final trial against the Titans but, along with fellow centre Tesi Niu, struggled defensively.
Euan Aitken is likely to start in the centres given that’s the position he was recruited to play, meaning only one spot up for grabs — and we’re expecting Niu to get it. There’s no doubt Lemuelu will get his chance throughout the season but it’s hard to beat the experience of Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich — who can both play 80 minutes — in the second row
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IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Sean O’Sullivan. A back-up no more — O’Sullivan is finally a first choice No.7. The 24-year-old is more than ready for the challenge after serving apprenticeships at the Roosters, Warriors, Broncos and Panthers. He proved last year that he could fill Nathan Cleary’s shoes and was rewarded with a three-year contract with the Dolphins. It’s the first time in O’Sullivan’s career that he’s started the season as the club’s preferred halfback and that’s one of the big things that drew him to the club in the first place.
“Hopefully I can lock down a starting position here… I would personally love to just play NRL week-in, week-out. I haven’t done that yet,” he said via the Dolphins’ website.
If O’Sullivan can nail down the No.7 jersey in the opening month of the competition then 2022 could be a career-defining season for him.
PREDICTED FINISH
16th
BEST 17
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Edrick Lee*
3. Euan Aitken
4. Tesi Niu
5. Jamayne Isaako
6. Anthony Milford
7. Sean O’Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Mark Nicholls
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenny Bromwich
13. Tom Gilbert
14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Ray Stone
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Herman Ese’ese
*Edrick Lee will likely miss Round 1 due to an ankle injury.
2023 squad: Anthony Milford (2024), Brenko Lee (2024), Connelly Lemuelu (2024), Edrick Lee (2024), Euan Aitken (2024), Felise Kaufusi (2025), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2024), Herman Ese’ese (2023, PO 2024), Isaiya Katoa (2025), Jamayne Isaako (2025), Jarrod Wallace (2024), Jeremy Marshall-King (2024), Jesse Bromwich (2024), JJ Collins (2023), Kenneath Bromwich (2025), Kodi Nikorima (2024), Mark Nicholls (2024), Mason Teague (2024, MO 2025), Oliver Gildart (2023), Poasa Faamausili (2023), Ray Stone (2024), Robert Jennings (2024, MO 2025), Sean O’Sullivan (2025), Tesi Niu (2023), Tom Gilbert (2025), Valynce Te Whare (2024)
Development players: Harrison Graham (2023), Jack Bostock (2023), Jeremiah Simbiken (2024 CO 2025), Michael Roberts (2023)
Coach: Wayne Bennett (2025)
