The Dolphins have been hit with a $50,000 fine by the NRL for breaching the code’s anti-tampering laws for allegedly attempting to induce Broncos flyer Deine Mariner into breaking his contract.
The Dolphins and Mariner’s agent, Dixon McIver, were served with a breach notice on Thursday afternoon after a lengthy investigation following complaints to the NRL Integrity Unit made by Brisbane late last year.
The breach notice proposes a $50,000 fine for NRL’s newest franchise, half of which is suspended, for approaching Mariner when he had two years still to run on his old Broncos contract.
Under NRL rules, rival clubs cannot induce players to break a contract, as was alleged by Brisbane in its submission to the Integrity Unit.
The Dolphins denied any wrongdoing at the time and McIver has since confirmed that Mariner, 20, had requested a release from his contract – which ran until the end of 2024.
The request was knocked back by Brisbane, who then upgraded and extended the highly-rated Mariner through until the end of 2027.
The NRL’s breach notice alleges “a failure by the club to comply with the record-keeping provisions of the [Playing Contract and Remuneration Rules].”
Clubs are required to maintain notes of player negotiations and produce them when requested by the NRL.
McIver is facing a 12-month suspension of his accreditation for his own record-keeping breach and “a failure to comply with player negotiation provisions” should he err again in the next two years.
The Dolphins and McIver both have five business days to respond to the breach notice. McIver has been contacted for comment.
Deine Mariner is highly rated at the Broncos.Credit: NRL Imagery
Mariner has scored five tries in four games out wide for Brisbane in 2023 after making his NRL debut last year.
He is regarded as one of the most promising young centres in the game and Brisbane’s logical replacement for Herbie Farnworth, who joins the Dolphins next year alongside Broncos teammate Tom Flegler.
The crosstown signings have added spice to the bubbling rivalry between the high-flying Broncos and Redcliffe based Dolphins, who will continue to have a strong presence in the player market after their frugal spending this season.
Several high-profile misses for marquee players in their inaugural season saw the Dolphins front-load several players contracts into their 2023 salary cap, while rising star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was also extended and upgraded.
The club has significant salary cap space for 2024 and beyond as a result, when assistant coach Kristian Woolf takes over from Wayne Bennett.
Veteran half Anthony Milford has been the subject of Super League interest after an underwhelming campaign plagued by injury, suspension and patchy form.
Milford, 30, is signed with the Dolphins until the end of 2024 but the club won’t stand in his way if an early release would help him clinch a longer deal overseas.
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