Sport Confidential: Wayne Bennett reacts to criticism of Dolphins’ recruitment drive
Wayne Bennett has hit back at criticism of the Dolphins recruiting, saying it’s too early to judge what the NRL’s newest franchise will look like. Read the full Sport Confidential.
The Brisbane Broncos’ 20-year partnership with NRMA Insurance is over.
The parties quietly severed ties at the end of last year following a two-decade sponsorship and partnership arrangement that started in 2004.
There has been speculation a recent spate of driving offences committed by Brisbane players contributed to the relationship ending, but the Broncos insisted that was not the case.
Instead, NRMA’s parent company IAG has been transitioning out of sponsorships with football clubs in recent years, also severing ties with the West Coast Eagles, Collingwood and Western Sydney Wanderers.
The insurance giant has instead opted to join forces with cricket in a national campaign.
“In 2019 NRMA Insurance became a community partner of the Beyond the Broncos Mentoring Program, following jersey sponsorship prior to this, with the partnership concluding at the end of the 2022 season,” an NRMA Insurance spokesperson said.
“Following the expansion of the NRMA Insurance brand in WA and SA in 2021, it announced a partnership with Cricket Australia in September 2022, the brand’s first national partnership with an Australian sporting code.”
NRMA Insurance was behind the memorable television advertisement about storm damage featuring Broncos players Corey Parker, Shane Webcke and Dane Carlaw.
Despite the departure of a long-term supporter, the Broncos’ sponsorship book is full with the likes of KIA Motors, Star Entertainment, BCF, Bailey Ladders and Asics on board.
BENNETT HITS BACK IN QLD’S UNCIVIL WAR
Wayne Bennett has hit back at Dolphins detractors in the wake of a savage attack from former Gold Coast Titans football manager Scott Sattler over the expansion franchise’s recruitment drive.
All eyes will be on the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday week when they begin their foundation NRL campaign against the Roosters.
The Dolphins were outclassed 40-16 by the Titans in a one-sided trial match at Redcliffe last Sunday which raised alarm bells.
If the performance was a sign of things to come, it could be a long year for the NRL’s 17th franchise following a tough recruitment process after being handed the licence with less than 18 months to prepare.
Sattler helped assemble the Titans’ foundation roster, signing the likes of Preston Campbell, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi for their 2007 launch.
And the ex-Queensland Origin forward hasn’t been impressed by the Dolphins’ approach.
“I’ve got to say, the Dolphins’ recruitment has been some of the poorest recruitment I’ve seen in rugby league,” Sattler told SEN.
“Really, really bad recruitment, I mean, they’ve got great experienced forwards that are going to keep them in the battle defensively but where their points are going to come from, I don’t know.
“There wouldn’t be many players from the Redcliffe Dolphins that you’d look at to try and take from them to bring to your club.
“There were some real marquee players on the market that they could have tried to entice.
“They didn’t take a recruitment mindset going into getting the 17th licence, they just spoke about how much money they had.
“But your first couple of years have got to be really important about future signings and bringing those marquee players to your club, so how you’re seen from the outside from the first day is really important.”
Contacted by Sport Confidential, Bennett said he was not hitting the panic button.
“I’ve been around long enough to know it’s only the trial season,” Bennett said.
“We didn’t take much out of it but the bottom line is it was only a trial and we’re a new club.
“We’ve played a couple of games ... let’s see where we are after 10 rounds of the season.”
The Dolphins had a crack at representative stars Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Brandon Smith but were unable to land a marquee signing.
Bennett recently admitted it had been a hard slog putting together the club’s foundation squad.
“Yes, it has been as hard as I expected to sign guys,” Bennett said.
“All the existing clubs are tangible, many players are happy at their clubs. We are building a new club. It’s all unknown.
“It was the same with the Broncos, but we had the advantage because of State of Origin and the Queensland guys like Wally Lewis, Gene Miles and Allan Langer who were playing in the Brisbane competition.
“The Broncos had a leg up, but the Dolphins don’t have a leg up.
“Now, everybody has a $9.5m salary cap and we didn’t have that back in the 1980s, so it’s an even playing field now, which makes it tough for the Dolphins.
“There’s only so many marquee players but I’m not going to dwell on the guys who haven’t joined us.
“There was a general in the first world war who said, ‘I would rather go to war with 100 men who will fight to the death than 1000 who won’t’.
“I just want a group of men that are always doing their best for the club.”
EXCLUSIVE - ARTIE BEETSON MEDAL IS BORN
First there was the Rothmans Medal. Then the Clive Churchill Medal. And the Dally M Medal.
Now there’s the Arthur Beetson Medal.
New NRL expansion club the Dolphins have created an award honouring rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson when they make history in their premiership debut against the Roosters on Sunday week.
Beetson played for both Redcliffe and the Roosters, so it is only fitting that the man-of-the-match in the round 1 clash at Suncorp Stadium will be bestowed the Artie Legacy Medal.
The spirit of Artie will be a feature of the historic Dolphins-Roosters clash at the home of Queensland rugby league.
Beetson’s family will walk out onto Suncorp to talk about Artie’s legacy and, in a lovely touch, his grandchildren will run the NRL match ball onto halfway before kick-off.
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader is hopeful the Artie Legacy Medal will become one of the most celebrated and treasured awards in the game - to be handed out annually in clashes against the Roosters.
“There is no doubt this match is going to be an emotional day for everyone involved, but none more so than the Beetson family,” Reader said.
“Arthur left an amazing legacy in not just the game of rugby league, but in Australian history.
“It is fitting that his memory will be honoured with the awarding of the Artie Legacy Medal for the man of the match in games between the Dolphins and Roosters.
“Arthur wrote in his book ‘Big Artie’ that it was always his dream to see an NRL match played between the Dolphins and the Roosters – the clubs he not only played with, but won premierships with and went on to coach.
“The game on Sunday, March 5 will allow us to bring Arthur’s dream to life for the Beetson family.
“And the fact that the wonderful Arthur Beetson Foundation will also benefit financially from the game is great thing.
“This match will be a moment in history for rugby league in Queensland with the debut of the Dolphins, but will also rightly recognise the amazing things Arthur did for the game, both clubs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
CAM INJECTION FOR MAROONS
Sorry NSW, another Queensland legend is back to inflict more Blue Murder.
Rookie Maroons coach Billy Slater pulled off an Origin series boilover in his first season in charge last year and his key assistant, Storm champion Cameron Smith, has agreed terms for another campaign this season.
The Queensland band came back together last with Origin greats Smith and Johnathan Thurston signing on with Slater, who also added the highly-regarded Josh Hannay to his team of assistants.
The Awesome Foursome worked a treat, putting together the game plan and team spirit which underpinned Queensland’s 2-1 series upset of the Blues.
Smith is a busy man in retirement, holding a number of media and ambassador roles, but the most-capped player in Origin history has signed on for another Maroons mission in 2023.
“Cam will be back on board which is great news, unless he and Billy have fallen out,” QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher said.
“It is the most wonderful group of guys to put over and above the talent that we have.
“It was a brilliant masterstroke from Billy bringing guys like Cam, JT and Josh Hannay on board last season.
“While it’s great to have Cam part of Camp Maroon, don’t forget Billy is the boss. He calls the shots and he is so profound in his planning and how it relates to the people of Queensland and making sure the fans aren’t forgotten.
“As I understand it, Cam is committed, he did a great job last year, those guys worked so well together and they would love to put it over the Blues again.”
EEL STAY FOR SURE
Mitchell Moses will stay at the Eels on a $5 million deal after the Dolphins became the latest NRL rival to rule out a poaching raid for the Parramatta playmaker.
The Dolphins made a big-money play for Moses’ halves partner Dylan Brown late last year but the new expansion franchise was never convinced the Eels No.7 would seriously consider leaving Sydney.
Five-eighth Brown ultimately signed a long-term deal with the Eels and Moses will do the same in coming weeks to ensure Parramatta’s scrumbase remains intact for 2026 and beyond.
The Wests Tigers have tried to lure Moses back to Concord but the 28-year-old has unfinished business in blue-and-gold after the Eels’ heartbreaking grand-final loss to Penrith last year.
The Dolphins have young gun Isaiya Katoa coming through and believe he can be an NRL superstar in the halves.
A NEW IZZY IN TOWN
There is a new Izzy in the NRL.
It may be 13 years since triple-code superstar Israel “Izzy” Folau last graced the NRL, but his nickname has returned.
Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa has picked up the “Izzy” moniker as he closes in on an NRL debut.
Katoa, 19, is loving life at Redcliffe after leaving the Panthers to be coached by Wayne Bennett at the NRL’s expansion club.
“I’m pretty close to a lot of boys, I’m not really stuck to one,” Katoa said of his Dolphins teammates.
“I like to get around with the boys.
“The younger group likes to chill out, hang out together and play a bit of golf in our down time.
“We enjoy each other’s company and the lifestyle here.”
Ironically, Folau is building a new house in Redcliffe, but there isn’t room for two Izzy’s at the Dolphins.
LEGENDS HONOUR SLAIN COPS
A host of rugby league greats have banded together in memory of slain Queensland police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.
The likes of Petero Civoniceva, Justin Hodges, Dane Carlaw, Shaun Berrigan and Willie Tonga will feature in a memorial day of footy with police at Redcliffe on Saturday.
Three matches will be played at Kayo Stadium from 1pm, with funds raised going to the Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow Remembrance Fund.
Tickets are available through Ticketek.
TITANIC FUNDRAISER
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help one of the Titans’ most promising young stars as he recovers from a serious spinal injury.
Boom under-17s Titans rookie Joseph Pouniu suffered a spinal cord injury in a pre-season trial against the Broncos on the Gold Coast last month.
Pouniu is unlikely to play again with the teenager facing a huge battle to regain movement from the shoulders down.
Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said the league community is rallying around Pouniu as the Gold Coast pledged to support their injured youngster.
“Joseph is a terrific young man, a leader and is a big part of our Future Titans program,” Mitchell said.
“The injuries that Joseph has sustained are serious and he has a long road ahead but the club will be here to support him.”
You can support Joe and his family via their GoFundMe page.
OPETAIA EYES UK MOVE
Australia’s only current male boxing world champion, Jai Opetaia, could be forced to fight overseas.
The IBF has ordered Opetaia to stage a world-title fight against Poland’s Mateusz Masternak, but his maiden defence may not be on Australian soil.
Opetaia’s promoter Dean Lonergan has lost his TV rights deal with Fox Sports and has begun looking at other markets including England, where there is major broadcasting bucks.
A UK fight could be a huge money spinner for Opetaia, who claimed the cruiserweight world title with his defeat of Mairis Briedis, breaking his jaw in the process.
“Jai’s jaw is now 100 per cent and we could fight overseas,” Lonergan said.
“We have to fight Masternak before June 2, so the fight will be any time between April and June.
“We need to look at the long-term financial benefits for Jai.
“Jai can easily beat Masternak. Jai is the no.1 cruiserweight in the world, he could beat Masternak in a telephone box in the Antarctic with one hand tied behind his back.
“He is training like a demon, he has made a full recovery and is ready to go.
HEADSPLITTING ATTACK
Issac Hardman has joined the Tim Tszyu stable and labelled Michael Zerafa a “f***ing wanker” as he looks to avenge his loss to the bad boy of Australian boxing.
Hardman, nicknamed ‘Headsplitter’, suffered a crushing second-round loss to Zerafa last year, but is determined to pick up the pieces after signing with No Limit Boxing in a bid to resurrect his career.
The Queenslander is rated a world-title prospect at middleweight and Hardman (13-1, 11KO) will step up one division to fight fellow Aussie Rohan Murdock (26-2, 19KO) on the undercard of the Tszyu-Tony Harrison blockbuster on March 12.
“No Limit have inked the biggest Foxtel deal in Australian boxing history, so it’s a pleasure to be a part of it and I appreciate their hospitality towards me,” said Hardman, who wants another crack at Zerafa.
“Mind my French, but Zerafa’s a f***ing wanker. I don’t like him.
“I can look back now and say I honestly looked through Zerafa because I thought this bloke can’t punch, but sure enough he put one on my chin, put me down and stopped me.
“Why I’m here with No Limit is he signed up on a No Limit card last time. It’s the road back to Zerafa for me.
“I know I can beat that bloke and he knows it, too.”
More Coverage
Stranded Cowboys ask NRL for charter flight to avoid finals farce
The North Queensland Cowboys risk missing Friday night’s final against the Sharks after the club failed to secure seats on one of the two direct flights to Sydney.
What Seibold’s revival says about ‘cursed’ Broncos coaching role
“It’s you not us’’ was the cry when Anthony Seibold was effectively shown the door in Brisbane. Maybe, ROBERT CRADDOCK writes, it was the Broncos all along.