The Dolphins 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch
The Dolphins head into their third season with a rookie NRL coach and one of rugby league’s most enduring hoodoos. TRAVIS MEYN answers the burning questions facing the club in 2025.
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The Dolphins head into their third season in the top flight with a rookie NRL coach and one of rugby league’s most enduring hoodoos - the ‘Bennett Curse’.
But coach Kristian Woolf has recruited strongly despite missing out on Ben Hunt, luring a trio powerful forwards to Redcliffe.
TRAVIS MEYN analyses the Dolphins’ free agency dealings, the likely debutants, and the burning issues facing the club in 2025.
Free agency wrap and rating
The Dolphins have had another solid year of recruiting, beefing up their squad with solid signings in Daniel Saifiti (Knights) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys) while Junior Tupou (Tigers) is a promising prospect. The cashed-up expansion club has been patiently adding to its foundation squad and will be hoping for more luck with Broncos recruits Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth on the injury front. The roster is well balanced, but they did miss out on Ben Hunt who would have taken their spine to another level.
RATING: B
Coach status and safety rating
Kristian Woolf will begin his NRL head coaching career with the tough task of succeeding Wayne Bennett. Most of Bennett’s successors have failed but the Dolphins believe Woolf has the best opportunity to thrive. He has an extensive coaching resume and success in England as well as at Test level with Tonga. Regardless of whether he enjoys first-year success or not, Woolf will be given time to prove he can make it in the NRL.
SAFETY RATING: A
Likely debutants
The Dolphins have handed out a lot of NRL debuts in recent years but may not have too many in 2025. Backrower James Walsh is a promising prospect and Oryn Keeley should see more NRL time following his sensational performances for Norths in the lower grades. Ryan Jackson is another player waiting in the wings on the development list.
Who takes the next step
If the Dolphins are going to play finals for the first time they need to take their game to a new level. They developed a reputation for being tough battlers under Bennett but more than that is needed to be a premiership contender. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is one of the NRL’s most dangerous players, but needs to be more consistent. Isaiya Katoa is entering his third NRL season and should be dominating more games than not. The Dolphins would kill to have enforcers Tom Gilbert and Tom Flegler on the field too following a couple of bad years with injuries. There is a changing of the guard underway with a number of older players on their way out which means the young brigade has to stand up.
The three burning issues
The Bennett factor
Will Kristian Woolf become the latest Wayne Bennett disciple to fail? It will be too early to tell in 2025 but he is under pressure to keep the Dolphins moving in the right direction. Woolf has a solid pedigree but head coaching fulltime in the NRL is a different beast.
Tortured Toms
The Dolphins sorely missed their two top forwards last season in Tom Flegler and Tom Gilbert. Gilbert is on track to play an NRL game for the first time since 2023 but the future is more uncertain for Flegler, who won’t be seen until late in the season at best. If the Dolphins can’t get their pack leaders on the park then they are no chance of being title contenders.
Honeymoon period
Expectations on the Dolphins have been pretty low since they entered the NRL in 2023. They were given little time to assemble a squad and few gave them any hope of playing finals. That’s changed now. The Titans played finals in their third season and the Dolphins must do the same if they want to be taken seriously. It may be Woolf’s first year in charge but the top eight should be the expectation with a solid roster at his disposal.
Crystal ball
The Dolphins improved from 13th in 2023 to 10th this year and now the time has arrived for them to play finals. They will need a little luck on the injury front, but this squad is capable of being a top eight team. They have established spine players and plenty of experience in the pack. The signs are positive at Redcliffe.
2025 odds
Winners: $51
Minor premiership: $51
Top 4: $10
Top 8: $3.50
Most losses: $9
Originally published as The Dolphins 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch
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