CQ Capras secure affiliation with Dolphins, NRL’s 17th franchise

Dolphins’ head coach Wayne Bennett praises Capras’ courage as he talks about an exciting new rugby league partnership. Read the full details here.

The CQ Capras have secured an affiliation with the NRL's newest club, the Dolphins, who will be coached by Wayne Bennett.

As many as six Dolphins’ players could turn out for the CQ Capras in the Intrust Super Cup each week as part of a groundbreaking deal announced on Wednesday.

The Capras have secured a full affiliation with the Dolphins, the 17th NRL franchise which will enter the Telstra Premiership in 2023.

Dolphins’ head coach Wayne Bennett and CEO Terry Reader joined Capras’ CEO Peter White in Rockhampton to outline what the partnership would mean.

The player arrangement is one of the most significant aspects of the affiliation, something the Capras have long been chasing and something which Bennett acknowledged.

“We’ve committed to six (players), that’s the rules of the Queensland Rugby League, so they’ll come out of our top 30,” he said.

CQ Capras' CEO Peter White and Dolphins' head coach Wayne Bennett announce the clubs' affiliation at the Rockhampton Leagues Club on Wednesday.

“I said in the room to the board I’ve watched CQ for a long time.

“I’ve loved their courage, I’ve loved the way they‘ve just hung in as an organisation against all the odds because they are the only team in the competition that didn’t have NRL support in terms of players.

“It would have been easy four or five years ago, two years ago, three years ago to disband the team here and walk away but they’ve hung in and hung in and now they’re going to get some reward for that.

“I want the young men and women here to want to play for the Dolphins. Your pathway to the NRL is through the Capras and onto the Dolphins.”

The affiliation would also mean Capras’ players would have an opportunity to train and trial with the Dolphins.

The $25 million redevelopment of Browne Park made it a viable proposition to host Dolphins trials, with NRL games also on the agenda.

The club also plans to field an NRLW team as well.

Coach Wayne Bennett holding the first Dolphins jersey. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Reader revealed that the two clubs had been in talks for about 18 months.

“I think the most important thing is that when the NRL decided to bring in a second Brisbane team, it wasn’t just about Brisbane, it was about Queensland and especially Central Queensland,” he said.

“Everyone jokes that it’s a shame that Brisbane has only ever had one team when it’s the biggest league-loving city in the world. Well, I think we’ve arrived at the second-biggest league loving city in the world in Rocky and regional Queensland.

“We’ve got 10,000 kids play rugby league in Central Queensland.

CQ Capras' chairman Bert Borland and CEO Peter White with Dolphins' CEO Terry Reader and head coach Wayne Bennett at the press conference announcing the exciting news for the two clubs.

“Some of the greatest names (who) have gone on to play NRL and at the highest level have come out of here so it’s making sure we can increase that and also give the right opportunities and the right pathways to make sure our Capras rugby league gets bigger and better.”

White said the affiliation was “an early Christmas present” for not only the Capras but for the broader community.

“It’s huge, this is probably the biggest announcement for our club for a long, long time,” he said.

The affiliation will provide exciting opportunities for CQ Capras players. Photo: Brendan Kirkman

“It just seems in the past that clubs have probably taken the easy option, that’s to pick the eyes out of us rather than contribute to what we’re about.

“It’s always been a bit of a challenge for our players whether they stay or they take up that contract to go down south and show their hand.

“Now they know full well that they can stay, they can sleep in their own beds, they can get their apprenticeships, they can be surrounded by their own network of friends and come through a system and the Dolphins are going to be keeping an eye on them.

“We’ve all got a huge spring in our step and we’re really looking forward to this partnership.”

Originally published as CQ Capras secure affiliation with Dolphins, NRL’s 17th franchise