Wayne Bennett has ‘lost aura’ as Dolphins plunged into crisis
The Dolphins have suffered a “monumental blow” which has exposed just how imperilled the club is with three weeks to avoid disaster.
Teams
Don't miss out on the headlines from Teams. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Dolphins have three weeks to pull off a miracle — or risk becoming a laughing stock as the club prepares to enter the NRL next year.
The league’s 17th franchise suffered the biggest blow in its short history on Thursday when Storm superstar Cameron Munster re-signed with Melbourne on a four-year-deal.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The Dolphins were blatantly public in their desperate recruiting attempts to convince Munster to be the club’s first marquee signing.
According to News Corp, Munster rejected a four-year offer from the Dolphins worth $5.6 million, signing with the Storm on a deal reportedly worth $4 million.
It is a huge slap in the face of the Dolphins and coach Wayne Bennett.
Bennett has missed out on every high-profile target the club has chased, including Harry Grant, Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga and more recently Ryan Matterson.
Read on below to see the best team possible that the Dolphins have assembled for 2023.
Losing Munster has now been described by The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio as a “monumental blow” for the Dolphins.
Penrith great Greg Alexander also said on SEN Breakfast he agreed that Bennett has “lost his aura” as a coach players wanted to play for.
Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said on the show: “What does this say for the Dolphins and the aura of Wayne Bennett? Do you think Wayne Bennett has got anyone across the line where there was some kind of bidding war? My quick answer is no, he hasn’t.
“The fact is, the aura of Wayne Bennett, it can’t be there because they haven’t won a bidding war… where Wayne Bennett was the deciding factor.”
Munster’s decision has blown the NRL recruitment market wide open with the Dolphins previously having expressed interest in signing Latrell Mitchell if it was unable to get Munster.
The Dolphins have announced the signings of 23 players on its first-grade squad — and need seven more before the November 1 deadline, giving the club three weeks to avoid disaster.
It was reported in August Bennett was preparing a three-year, $4 million contract offer for the Rabbitohs superstar — if Munster stayed in Melbourne.
Mitchell responded to the speculation by saying he would not be Bennett’s “second choice”.
It was reported during the NRL Finals series Mitchell’s decision to re-sign with South Sydney was a ‘fait accompli’.
It makes Bennett’s public commentary difficult to read for any potential Dolphin fans.
Mitchell, who is contracted with the Rabbitohs until the end of 2023, goes to free agency from November 1 — after this date, he will be free to field offers from rival clubs.
Bennett, who coached Mitchell for two years at South Sydney, has been under mounting pressure.
“I haven’t had talks with Latrell, but if he is on the open market in November, then yes I’m interested,” he told the News Corp publication.
“He has been negotiating with South Sydney and they might do a deal before he becomes a free agent.
“Right now, he isn’t on the market.
“If Latrell does go to the open market, there will be 16 other clubs chasing him and we will be one of them.”
He also said at the time: “Everybody knows we are chasing Cameron Munster and he is our priority; that hasn’t been finalised.
“Under the salary cap, we can’t afford Munster and another guy of similar value like Latrell.
“Munster is our priority signing, but if Latrell is available in November, I will be keen to talk to him.”
The Dolphins’ biggest signings so far have been Maroons forwards Jarrod Wallace, Felise Kaufusi and Tom Gilbert.
There was also some good news for the Dolphins last week with the club signing Cowboys speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on a lucrative three-year deal.
The Dolphins are also reportedly chasing Dragons young gun Tyrell Sloan.
However, there was also disaster for the club last week as the NRL world mocked the club’s inaugural playing jersey
The bright red and beige colour scheme has made the jersey a laughing stock across the rugby league world.
Jokes have been flying thick and fast as the image of the jersey began to spread across the internet.
NRL great Scott Sattler said on Monday it was “horrible”.
Dolphins strongest line-up for Round 1, 2023
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Robert Jennings
4. Euan Aitken
5. Edrick Lee
6. Anthony Milford
7. Sean O’Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Mark Nicholls
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Tom Gilbert
14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Jarrod Wallace
16. Connelly Lemuelu
17. Ray Stone
Originally published as Wayne Bennett has ‘lost aura’ as Dolphins plunged into crisis
Billy Slater in crazy career shift
Storm legend and Queensland coach Billy Slater has taken up a new position that nobody saw coming after the NRL season.
Stars snubbed in wild Kangaroos bombshell
Mal Meninga has dropped bombs on three of the biggest stars in the game as the Kangaroos coach announced his squad.