NRL 2023 Market Watch: Dolphins anger over Broncos denying them chance to sign Karl Oloapu
The Battle of Brisbane has again stepped up a notch with the Broncos pulling the handbrake on the Dolphins securing a Redcliffe rising star as the expansion war hits overdrive.
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The Dolphins have hit back in the Brisbane expansion war, whacking the Broncos for blocking Redcliffe junior Karl Oloapu from joining the NRL’s newcomers.
The Battle of Brisbane is heating up as the Dolphins prepare to celebrate their NRL existence with an inaugural season launch on Friday night.
The club will then play a pre-season trial match on Saturday night when they will field a team of mostly fringe first graders against the CQ Capras in Gladstone.
It will be the first time the Dolphins are seen on the field as an NRL entity, with their proper trials campaign to kick off next weekend in Cairns.
And their rivalry with the Broncos is taking shape, as tensions rise between the Brisbane foes ahead of a round-four showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
After reporting the Dolphins to the NRL last year for their pursuit of contracted centre Deine Mariner, the Broncos last week blocked disgruntled rising star Oloapu from joining their new rivals.
Oloapu had been agitating for a release from the Broncos for six months, with the Dolphins prepared to offer the Australian Schoolboys star a huge contract.
But furious Brisbane officials blocked the move and refused to release Oloapu from his three-year contract to the Dolphins.
That allowed Phil Gould’s cashed-up Canterbury Bulldogs to swan in with a huge four-year contract and $500,000 transfer fee for Oloapu.
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said the club was disappointed it wasn’t allowed the opportunity to sign a Redcliffe junior.
“It is disappointing when you are pointedly denied the opportunity to sign a local junior from the area,” he said.
“But to be honest, we are really pleased with the amount of young playing talent we have been able to secure in the last 12 months.
“The Dolphins have always been a development club and we aim to develop the best young talent in the country through our NRL academy and pathways programs.
“We have already made great inroads by signing some of the best young players in Queensland to the Dolphins.”
While none of their NRL recruits will take the field, the Dolphins will unveil some emerging talent in Gladstone.
Penrith signing Isaiya Katoa is rated one of the NRL’s hottest young talents and will start at halfback.
New Zealand rugby convert Valynce Te Whare has been named at centre along with NSW under-19s Origin representative Jack Bostock.
Young hooker Harrison Graham and lock Mason Teague are also considered to be players of the future.
Coach Wayne Bennett will roll out some of his big guns when the Dolphins face the Cowboys at Barlow Park in Cairns next Sunday night.
Originally published as NRL 2023 Market Watch: Dolphins anger over Broncos denying them chance to sign Karl Oloapu
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