NRL 2023 draw: Dolphins and Broncos to add to Gabba’s rugby league history
Every game will be huge for the NRL’s newest team the Dolphins, but the 2023 draw has revealed some that may mean more than others for the club.
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Wayne Bennett has appealed for the Dolphins to honour the legacy of Arthur Beetson by beating the Roosters in their NRL debut.
The NRL officially released its 2023 premiership draw on Thursday, confirming Queensland’s newest club the Dolphins will launch their maiden campaign with a Brisbane blockbuster against the Roosters.
The teams will play for the inaugural Arthur Beetson Cup in front of an expected 50,000-strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, March 5.
A Queensland league legend, the late Beetson was a significant figure in the history of the Redcliffe Dolphins and Eastern Suburbs Roosters, playing for and coaching both clubs before his death in 2011, aged 66.
Coach Bennett said the Dolphins could uphold Beetson’s legacy by kicking off their NRL existence with a win against the powerhouse Roosters.
“I’m looking forward to the Roosters game in round one,” he said.
“It will mean a lot to honour the legacy of Artie Beetson. He did a lot for both clubs so I can’t think of a better way to start the season.
“We’d love to honour Artie by winning that first game.”
The Dolphins received a mostly favourable draw for their first season in the top grade and will play home games at Suncorp, Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium, Sunshine Coast Stadium and Perth’s Optus Stadium (Knights in round 23).
They will kick off their season against the Roosters (Suncorp), Raiders (Redcliffe) and Knights (away) before the first Battle of Brisbane against the Broncos in round 4.
They don’t have a bye until after their Magic Round clash against the Sharks in round 10 – which is technically an away game despite being played at Suncorp – and play the Bulldogs at Bundaberg (round 22) in another away game.
Two byes fall either side of the State of Origin period with a historic Gabba blockbuster against the Broncos to be played on July 1 (round 18).
Bennett said the Gabba derby against the Broncos club he coached for 25 years would be a must-watch event.
“I am looking forward to playing the Broncos at the Gabba, it will be a historic night for the game,” he said.
“My uncle actually played a representative game there. Eddie Brosnan played for Queensland and Australia and he played against England there, so the ground has a history of hosting rugby league matches. It will be great to go back there given my family’s connection to the Gabba.
“It’s great we are playing the Broncos twice. It will be rugby league at its best. You saw the Broncos rivalry with the Cowboys and I think it will be no different with the Dolphins.”
The Dolphins will finish the regular season with back-to-back home games against the Cowboys and Warriors.
With Suncorp Stadium out of action for two months due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Broncos are taking three games to the Gabba.
They will host the Dolphins (round 18), Roosters (round 22) and Eels (round 24) at the home of AFL’s Brisbane Lions.
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy hopes the club can make its “second home” a fortress in 2023.
“For the first time, we intend on making the Gabba our second Brisbane fortress – for three games at least,” he said.
“We look forward to hosting Redcliffe for the first time there in round 18. It will be another great chance for our members and fans to witness history.”
The Broncos have been handed arguably the toughest draw in the competition and start the season with a bang, travelling to Penrith in round 1 to face the reigning premiers before a round 2 Queensland derby against the Cowboys at Suncorp.
Coach Kevin Walters will be hoping to bank points early in the year before Brisbane faces a tough end to the season with games against 2022 top eight teams the Rabbitohs, Roosters, Cowboys, Eels, Raiders and Storm to finish.
“From a football perspective, we will be based predominantly in southeast Queensland over the first 10 rounds of the competition, which will reduce our early travel significantly,” Donaghy said.
“There’s no such thing as an easy game in the NRL and I know Kev and the entire football program will be giving everything over the course of the pre-season to ensure the boys are ready to go next season.”
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