NRL News: Peter V’landys tips Dolphins to play finals in first year
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys is backing the NRL’s newest team to far exceed most experts’ expectations in their first season.
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ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has lashed critics of the Dolphins and says super coach Wayne Bennett can lead the NRL’s new franchise club to their finals in their debut season.
The NRL will launch the fourth instalment of Magic Round on Wednesday and V’landys says Bennett can work his own special brand of magic to ensure the maligned Dolphins are competitive in their foundation year in 2023.
The Dolphins will make their Magic Round debut against Cronulla on day two of the three-day festival on Saturday, May 6 at Suncorp Stadium, which has attracted 394,818 fans since the birth of the eight-game showpiece in 2019.
The Dolphins have come under fire for failing to land a marquee signing, but V’landys backed Bennett to get the expansion rookies firing on the big stage - including their Magic Round baptism when 16 NRL clubs descend on ‘Brisvegas’.
“The criticism of the Dolphins has been a total over-reaction,” V’landys said.
“People keep doubting Wayne Bennett and they will do that at their peril.
“This is a long-term project. The Dolphins will have a new generation of Selwyn Cobbos and Payne Haas’ coming through, so the NRL is not concerned at all.
“His strategy of signing some experienced role models and players who have won premierships such as Jesse Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi, to mix with the substantial junior base they have there, is very astute.
“What critics can’t see is their massive catchment of kids coming through. They can be the Penrith of Queensland.
“Wayne Bennett is a genius. He will prove his critics wrong. We made the right call on expansion and the Dolphins will be great for Magic Round ... they can make the finals in their first season.”
The Dolphins’ Queensland rivals the Broncos will help launch Magic Round when Brisbane face Anthony Seibold’s Sea Eagles in the second game of a double header on day one on Friday, May 5.
Tickets are on sale from Wednesday with three-day passes starting at $99 for adults and $269 for families.
On day three on Sunday, the Cowboys face off against the Sydney Roosters, before the Gold Coast Titans bring the curtain down on a Magic weekend against grand finalists Parramatta.
Former Broncos skipper Sam Thaiday was coached by Bennett for 10 years and believes the seven-time premiership mentor will ignite a magical rivalry with the Dolphins.
“The last time I played against the Dolphins, Wayne had dropped me after a State of Origin game and I was playing reserve grade for the Toowoomba Clydesdales. I was sin-binned in that game,” Thaiday said with a laugh.
“So I’ve got a love-hate relationship with the Dolphins and I’m sure that will continue now they’re in the competition and playing against the Broncos.
“I think their rivalry will be absolutely brilliant.
“I’ve already come up with what it should be called. I’m copyrighting it, making T-shirts and all of the things with ‘Brissy versus the Bay’, which is good because the Dolphins need a home, they’re still homeless.
“Magic Round is the best weekend for Queenslanders and now it’s about to get even fiercer with the Dolphins joining the party in 2023.”
Dolphins boss Terry Reader welcomed his club’s Magic Round showdown with the Sharks.
“It is going to be a huge highlight to be another local Brisbane team playing in the celebration that is Magic Round,” he said.
“We are playing seven home matches at Suncorp Stadium already so to get to play an ‘away game’ there for Magic Round is a bonus for our fans.
“It is going to be a special weekend for the game and the Dolphins are excited to be part of it.”
Tickets go on sale to NRL club members first on Wednesday, then on sale to the general public from Thursday 10am. Three-day passes can be purchased now through
nrl.com/tickets. Single-day tickets will go on sale from Monday, December 12.
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Originally published as NRL News: Peter V’landys tips Dolphins to play finals in first year
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