NRL 2024: Jack Bostock firming to win wing spot at Dolphins

The Dolphins are set to field a big aerial weapon in 2024 with towering winger Jack Bostock tipped to be a round one starter.

Jack Bostock is hoping to win a spot on the wing for the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Imagery

Wayne Bennett will unleash one of the NRL’s tallest flyers in a new-look Dolphins backline.

Dragons junior Jack Bostock has clinched a spot on the Dolphins’ wing alongside Canterbury recruit Jake Averillo.

At 197cm, Bostock just edges out Roosters tower Daniel Tupou (196cm) and will give the Dolphins a serious aerial threat out wide.

With 2023 Ken Irvine Medal winner Jamayne Isaako (24 tries) on the other wing and Broncos recruit Herbie Farnworth in the centres, the Dolphins boast a strike-filled backline.

Not to mention speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback, who is coming off a breakout season last year which saw him become one of the code’s most threatening players.

Bostock, 20, made his NRL debut for the Dolphins last year and played four games as he became accustomed to life in the top grade.

Jack Bostock is tipped to win the wing spot at the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Imagery

But he’s now set to see more time in the NRL if he can make the most of the opportunity he’s about to be given by Bennett.

“It looks like I’ve been going all right,” Bostock said.

“You don’t get a whole lot of feedback from Wayne. It’s hard to get a gauge on what the team will look like in round one.

“I’m trying to come in every day and keep getting better and work on the things I need to work on.

“We’ll see what happens when the trials come around.

“I’d like to be in the NRL team a lot more consistently this year. I know last year I played a few games but I was a bit in-and-out.

“I want to stay in the team consistently then once I get in there, who knows what happens.”

The Dolphins of 2024 look a stronger squad than the one that finished 13th in the club’s foundation NRL season last year.

They have bolstered their forward stocks with Queensland Origin prop Tom Flegler from the Broncos while Farnworth and Averillo will add plenty of strike.

Bostock has enjoyed training alongside the rising Averillo and hopes he can form a deadly combination with his centre.

“I think he’ll be there round one,” Bostock said.

“He’s a really good player so it helps defending and attacking with him.

“He’s been around the game for a while. He’s only young but he’s been there a long time and knows a lot. He’s been helping me out.

“Good players tend to help those around them, which he has been doing.”

Isaako set a high bar for wingers at the Dolphins following his remarkable career resurrection last year.

And he is helping Bostock – a NSW under-19s Origin representative – take his game to the next level.

“This is the most I’ve ever learnt in my 15 years of playing footy, I learnt the most in the one year here,” he said.

Former Bulldog Jake Averillo is now at the Dolphins. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

“We have a really good coaching staff here with Wayne, ‘Woolfy’ (Kristian Woolf) and ‘Fieny’ (Nathan Fien). They all know a lot about the game.

“I’ve been doing a bit with Jamayne. He was wonderful last year, whatever I can take from him I will put towards my game.

“I like to watch the tall wingers in the game and take a bit from that. I watched Daniel Tupou a lot as a kid and he’s still getting around.

“Every player has something better they bring to the table so we can all help each other to be better.

“It makes the competition better and us train better.”

The Dolphins kick off their pre-season with a reserves trial against the CQ Capras in Rockhampton on February 10 before their first NRL trial against the Titans at the Sunshine Coast on February 18.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Jack Bostock firming to win wing spot at Dolphins