Dolphins sign boom teen forward Ryan Jackson

NRL newcomers The Dolphins have swooped to sign a boom Queensland under 18 State of Origin squad teen forward for 2023.

Meninga Cuop, Wynnum Manly Seagulls vs Redcliffe Dolphins. Seagulls #8 Ryan Jackson. April 10, 2021 - Picture: Renae Droop

The Dolphins have signed outstanding Wynnum Manly junior forward Ryan Jackson for their 2023 NRL debut season.

Jackson, a prop, is coming off two seasons of Meninga Cup (under 18) competitions.

He also helped St Laurence’s College win the 2021 AIC First XV rugby union competition.

He played second row for Laurie’s - the old school of Queensland Origin legend Cooper Cronk - and made our AIC Team of the Season.

The Dolphins beat one of the NRL premiership contenders to Jackson’s signature.

Jackson is a tall, strongly built front rower more in the Christian Welch (Melbourne Storm) mould.

St Laurence's player Ryan Jackson in 2021 where he was a premiership winner. Picture John Gass

He is a member of the 30 man Queensland under 18 State of Origin squad which was announced earlier in the week and is very much a Wayne Bennett (Dolphins coach) style of player.

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His signing followed the acquisition of Wavell SHS schoolboy Charlie Dickson on a development contract, while Palm Beach Currumbin SHS five-eighth Michael Roberts, hooker Harrison Graham and outside back Valynce Te Whare. Roberts were announced late last year.

Ryan Jackson has been signed by the Dolphins.

Roberts, who can also play wing or fullback, is the brother of NRL speed demon James and produced an 80m solo try to steal victory for PBC SHS over Marsden SHS in a schoolboy semi-final last season.

The Dolphins have been at a disadvantage in the player market because they were only accepted into the competition late last year, meaning most junior and senior players were already secured by rival NRL clubs for the 2023 season.

The Redcliffe and bayside region alone is a hotbed of rugby league talent which has produced gun teens likes of Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS, Broncos signed), Rob Toia (Roosters), Ben Te Kura (Broncos), Mitchell Rogers (Padua College), our Meninga Cup Team of the Year winger Jayden Afefio (Redcliffe SHS), Drew Timms, among others.

Meninga Cuop, Wynnum Manly Seagulls vs Redcliffe Dolphins. Seagulls #8 Ryan Jackson. April 10, 2021 - Picture: Renae Droop

But the next generation of junior from both the peninsula district and beyond is on the horizon and the signing of Jackson, Roberts, Dickson and co is evident the Dolphins were making up ground and were working successfully in the junior and youth spaces.