The Dolphins: 24 of the best junior talents named
The Dolphins have a Dad’s Army pack for their NRL debut, but what about the future? Here are 25 of the Redcliffe club’s best junior talents, including a state water polo player and an array of state reps.
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The Dolphins will field one of the NRL’s oldest and most experienced packs which will be just what the doctor ordered for the Peninsula club’s foundation seasons.
But behind the historic 2023 flag bearers, what is happening on the junior front?
Just as the NRL club has only had 14 months to pull a top 30 squad together, so to have the youth development staff only had 14 months to start directing their juniors toward Redcliffe.
It is why Redcliffe’s three best local juniors of recent times – Australian schoolboy Karl Oloapu (Canterbury), Roosters centre sensation Rob Toia and Broncos’ big man Ben Te Kura were unable to be recruited by the Dolphins – because they were already under lock and key elsewhere.
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But the landscape has changed as the Dolphins work hard at attracting the best youth across its catchment from Albany Creek to Rockhampton.
And the club has come up with some exciting talent, including Queensland representatives and a Queensland junior water polo match winner. Here were just 25 of many rookies snared by the club.
In the senior squad were four teenager players who could be seen in the NRL this season.
They were:
Isaiya Katoa: A Barker Hill alumni, Dolphins’ fans will see Katoa make his NRL debut this season. There is no doubt about it. The young halfback, in his first year out of school, was on a fast track learning experience having played for Tonga at the recent World Cup.
Jack Bostock: The 2022 NSW under 19 winger or centre comes from the famous league nursery of Illawarra. He has been one of the Dragons best junior players and his signature was a coup for the Dolphins.
Ryan Jackson: What an apprenticeship this rookie prop is having, being surrounded by Tom Gilbert, Jesse Bromwich, Mark Nicholls and Jarrod Wallace in the off-season. Can it get any better for this St Laurence’s College old boy who comes from the rich footy plains surrounding Kougari Oval, Wynnum.
Michael Roberts: Another Junior Blues squad member, Roberts is exactly the type of kid who will make it all the way to the NRL. A Palm Beach Currumbin SHS alumni, Roberts not only has football ability – he can play five-eight, centre, wing or fullback – but he can still perform when taken out of his comfort zone.
And now for the juniors
Tory Bath: Bath is a brilliant young fullback who represented the Queensland schoolboy under 18s last season. He may be a Nudgee College First XV premiership winner, but he has always been a league player. Fast on his feet and quick between the ears, Bath is also blessed with pace.
Mereki Warradoo: This youngster could be the best of all the young backs on the books. From the local catchment – he is a Moreton Bay rugby league club junior – Warradoo was the Queensland Player of the Series when he represented the under 15 schoolboys last season. He is a beautiful mover, a real eye-catcher.
Charlie Dickson: A Wavell SHS No. 13, watch for Dickson to break into the Langer Trophy this season. The foundation of his game is tackling, but he was unloading in Walters Cup football and was a prominent ball carrier as well. Dickson represented the Queensland under 15 schoolboys last season and was a junior teammate of Warradoo at Moreton Bay earlier in his career.
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Jairus Halahala: Halahala is a real Dolphins pin-up boy. Why. Because like Nate Berrigan, he attends Redcliffe SHS just 1km from the Redcliffe Leagues’ club. Another Queensland under 15 player last season, the rookie prop is strong and aggressive with great late footwork.
Nixon Pasese: Another Queensland under 15 representative, the Nudgee College student is a thumping prop forward product whom the club’s talent scouts have done well to secure. He was impressive during last season’s national carnival staged, ironically, on his new home ground.
Brian Pouniu: A North Lakes Kangaroo junior, the Burpengary schoolboy is an exciting edge forward who played his way into last season’s Queensland under 15s. He can be a real wrecking ball on the edge and ticks a lot of boxes.
Benson Tau: Marsden SHS has long been a hotbed of talent and the Dolphins recruitment net has snared this Logan Brothers junior winger with a long stride and plenty of pace. Tau also works hard coming out of his end and is a threat in the air.
Adaquix Luke: The Dolphins’ recruitment arm has a long reach and as a result Adaquix Luke has been snared from Marsden SHS. The son of New Zealand Test great and South Sydney legend Issac, Adaquix plays as far away from dummy half as you can get – he is a fast moving fullback.
Braelan Marsh: Braelan is the son of former Queensland State of Origin series winning hooker PJ Marsh. A Mount Archer State School alumni who attends St Brendan’s College, Marsh was a Queensland under 12 and Queensland under 15 representative (2021) and will play in the open Firsts this season.
Carter Ford: Joining Marsh in the St Brendan’s First XIII will be Carter Ford, the son of Queensland’s Origin and Test forward Carl Webb. The Dolphins regard central Queensland as its catchment and the recruitment of both Marsh, Ford and Carter Welfare (see below) is evidence their brand is powerful outside of northern Brisbane.
Carter Welfare: The Central Queensland production line never ceases to amaze and now another young gun is making his way through the system. Nudgee College boarder Welfare is a halfback who made the Queensland under 15 top tier squad last season.
Nate Berrigan: Another local who, from his classroom at Redcliffe SHS, can almost hear Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett barking instructions at Dolphin Oval. Berrigan, the son of NRL old boy Barry, is a rising back rower who can play tight or loose. He played for the Queensland 15s last season.
Jake Carsburg: There is just a touch of Mick DeVere (Broncos legend) about this Grace Lutheran College student who has been training during the off-season in the Dolphins youth academy. A Queensland under 15 representative, he has a beautiful pass to his winger and can get on the outside of an opponent.
Cody Starr: The son of former Redcliffe prop Adam Starr (48 NSWRL games), Cody is a chip off the old block. He is a tall and strong tight forward who is both a member of the Dolphins Academy and also a Redcliffe Dolphins under 16 Connell Challenge squad.
Caleb Jackson: Jackson comes all the way from Ipswich SHS where he helped his school team through his unbeaten 2022. He is a fullback, centre or winger who can play tough, while having some natural flair. We were delighted to see him injury free and at his best last season, and pleased he has landed a chance at the Dolphins.
Michael Waqa: He has been a name on everyone’s lips since his wrecking ball efforts as a junior at the Albany Creek Crushers, but it took until the middle of last year for an NRL club (The Dolphins) to make a move on him. The fitter he got, the better this young prop went for Wavell SHS last year and he will be that much better again in season 2023. He is one of the younger members of the Queensland under 19 squad.
Tommy Luhrmann: From the unbeaten, championship winning Ipswich SHS side, Luhrmann comes at the Dolphins system as a three season veteran of Langer Trophy football. A dummy half, he plays eyes up footie and backs his speed. He also loves the tough stuff.
Corey Thomas: Another fullback prospect, don’t write this kid off. While not actually on contract, he is around the ridges. The 2020 Justin Hodges Medallist for the Langer Trophy’s best player, Thomas has spent two years in the Wests Tigers system. Like Bath, he is a northern Brisbane product, and like Michael Roberts, Thomas can play tough. He is Wavell SHS alumni.
Taoso Taoso: The Dolphins were carefully assembling under 15 talent and one of the most interesting is this young bloke. Taoso was snapped up by the Dolphins earlier this year after impressing in the under 14 Norths Devils side as an edge or centre. He is a fine sportsman, having recently scored the winning goal for Queensland at the under 16 Australian water polo championships where the Maroons won a gold medal.
Tyrese Tovao: There is plenty of water to flow under the bridge, but let us see how Tovao progresses in the early part of the season. A Mabel Park SHS student from Logan, the young centre has genuine wheels and it is little wonder the Dolphins thought “why not’’ when signing him.
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