Redcliffe Dolphins end long-standing association with Broncos and strike deal with Warriors
Redcliffe believe their decision to break from the Broncos to sign a three-year feeder deal with the Warriors will boost the club’s chances of winning an NRL license.
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Redcliffe general manager of football Grant Cleal is hopeful the club’s new affiliation with the New Zealand Warriors will boost the Dolphins’ chances of winning an NRL license.
The Dolphins revealed on Monday they had signed a three-year feeder club deal with the Warriors in a bid to strengthen the talent pool for both sides.
The new partnership also brings to an end the long-running alliance between Redcliffe and Brisbane, after the Broncos cut short all their affiliation agreements in March.
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However, the Dolphins are hopeful the Warriors will also help them in their bid to become the fourth Queensland NRL team by 2023.
Redcliffe have expressed interest in putting forward a bid to become the NRL’s 17th team and Cleal said this had not changed.
“A club like the Warriors is very professionally run. We’ve seen how well run they actually are in the last month or so,” Cleal said of New Zealand’s efforts to base themselves in Australia to restart the NRL competition during the coronavirus pandemic.
“They’re a really professionally run outfit and they could be helpful in our bid.
“The Warriors already do it tougher than most as far as travel goes, but what we’ve seen just recently shows that they’re always willing to work harder than most.
“It will be very beneficial to us to have them as an affiliate club.”
It is understood powerbrokers for the clubs will meet today to discuss further how their partnership will work.
Cleal said there hadn’t been any discussions about how New Zealand could help Redcliffe with their bid, but he knew the new partnership would be beneficial in a multitude of ways, including for the Redcliffe community.
“It’s a really good affiliation for our entire region,” Cleal said.
“It’s just going to work. It has a good feel about it and they’ll do a lot to foster rugby league in our community.”
END OF AN ERA: DOLPHINS MOVE ON FROM BRONCOS
The Broncos’ near 20-year alliance with powerhouse club Redcliffe has come to an end, after the Dolphins on Monday announced a new affiliation with the New Zealand Warriors.
As Redcliffe gear up to launch their own bid for an NRL team, they have revealed plans to join forces with the Warriors for three years from 2021.
The move comes after Brisbane ended all of their feeder club agreements in March, including those with the Norths Devils, Souths Logan Magpies and Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
It is understood the Broncos made the decision to cut ties while they wait to see how COVID-19 will affect club rosters and the competition’s salary cap, with these structures currently under review by the NRL.
Brisbane are expected to make a final decision on their futures with affiliate clubs by August.
However, the Dolphins have decided not to wait and took the opportunity to connect with the Warriors.
The Courier-Mail understands the parting of ways was mutual and respectful after starting their affiliate agreement in 2001.
It is understood Redcliffe hope the new connection with the Warriors will give them the backing they need to become the next Brisbane-based NRL franchise.
Moreton Bay Regional Council mayor Peter Flannery said the trans-Tasman allegiance would add international muscle to the Dolphins’ bid and that he would meet with representatives from the Warriors on Wednesday to try to convince them to throw their support behind the club’s NRL campaign.
Redcliffe has produced plenty of star talent for Brisbane over the years, including Petero Civoniceva, Brent Tate and Matt Gillett.
One of their most recent success stories is that of Matt Lodge, with the prop joining Redcliffe in 2017 while he was banned from playing in the NRL.
That year helped him get back on his feet, before he was able to sign with Brisbane for the 2018 season.
The Warriors and Dolphins will now hope to benefit from each other in similar ways, with New Zealand CEO Cameron George saying the affiliation could be the shake up his club needs.
“Redcliffe is a hugely successful club with a big talent pool and well-established senior and junior pathways,” he said in a statement.
“We have to improve as an organisation to achieve the expectations we have of ourselves. We need to be different and do things differently to secure the future we see for our great club.”
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