Dolphins roster analysis: Nine players to exit, 13 in limbo amid NRL shake-up
The Broncos have swooped in on the Dolphins and are on the verge of poaching their first NRL player from their Brisbane rivals with a front-rower set to switch clubs in Brisbane.
The Broncos are poised to poach breakout Dolphins enforcer Aublix Tawha in what could be Brisbane’s first genuine raid on their River City rivals.
Tawha is on the verge of signing with the Broncos after being one of nine players squeezed out of the Redcliffe club.
The Dolphins officially farewelled a host of 2025 players at the club’s Arthur Beetson Medal awards night on Thursday.
Among the group of departing Dolphins is Tawha, who made nine NRL appearances for Redcliffe in his debut first grade season.
Tawha famously went toe-to-toe with Roosters firebrand Spencer Leniu in a spiteful showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
• In pictures: Dolphins awards night 2025
In a perfect world, the Dolphins would have retained the fearsome 26-year-old from New Zealand following his impressive efforts under coach Kristian Woolf.
However Redcliffe’s 2026 roster is full and the Dolphins couldn’t find a top-30 spot for Tawha.
The prop forward is being courted by a number of clubs, but is set to sign with the Broncos to replace the departing Fletcher Baker in Brisbane’s front row ranks.
While plenty of Broncos players have made the switch to Redcliffe since the Dolphins entered the NRL in 2023, few have travelled the other way.
The Dolphins have poached the likes of Tom Flegler, Herbie Farnworth, Jamayne Isaako and Max Plath from the Broncos.
While rookie Michael Waqa went from the Dolphins to Broncos mid-season, Tawha will be the first genuine NRL player to switch between the rival clubs.
Tawha will leave the Dolphins along with Sean O’Sullivan, Harrison Graham, Peter Hola and Dragons signing Josh Kerr.
The Dolphins will also bid farewell to retiring forwards Kenny Bromwich and Mark Nicholls.
While the Dolphins are turning over their roster, the club’s 2026 NRL squad is nearly all locked up.
The Dolphins have balanced their departures with a number of key signings like Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo, Penrith playmaker Brad Schneider and Super League forward Morgan Knowles.
The team’s spine is settled with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kodi Nikorima, Isaiya Katoa and Jeremy Marshall-King.
The Dolphins are also hopeful of having gun forwards Tom Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath and Daniel Saifiti back on deck following an injury-ravaged 2025 season.
DEPARTING DOLPHINS
Sean O’Sullivan
Kenny Bromwich (retired)
Josh Kerr (Dragons)
Harrison Graham (unknown)
Mark Nicholls (retired)
Michael Waqa (Broncos)
Ryan Jackson (unknown)
Aublix Tawha (Broncos*)
Peter Hola (Knights)
DOLPHINS ROSTER ANALYSIS
IN LIMBO
Players who come on the open market from November 1
Brad Schneider
Age: 24
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Penrith playmaker signed on a one-year contract to add depth to Redcliffe’s ranks and will be pushing to partner Isaiya Katoa.
Connelly Lemuelu
Age: 27
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Has been a consistent performer and threat off the bench after transitioning to the back row.
Francis Molo
Age: 31
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Picked up mid-season from the Dragons and proved to be a crucial signing given Redcliffe’s injury struggles. Will be hopeful of getting an extension.
Herbie Farnworth
Age: 25
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Redcliffe’s strike weapon is in talks over a multi-year extension to keep him at the Dolphins. They fell apart when he did his hammy late in the season.
Jake Averillo
Age: 25
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Super handy performer across the entire backline who has become a key player for the Dolphins.
Jamayne Isaako
Age: 29
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Has remarkably played in all 72 games of the Dolphins’ NRL existence. His elite goalkicking makes him a must-keep player.
James Walsh
Age: 20
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Elite young prospect who is on the verge of making his NRL debut.
Kodi Nikorima
Age: 31
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Has resurrected his NRL career at the Dolphins and become a great foil for the young Katoa but may be coming towards the end.
Max Feagai
Age: 24
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Made a fist of his first season at the Dolphins with some key NRL appearances late in the year.
Oryn Keeley
Age: 22
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Made the most of 16 opportunities to play in the NRL this season and impressed. Worthy of an extension.
Ray Stone
Age: 28
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
The heart and soul of the Dolphins gives his all and is a favourite at Redcliffe.
Trai Fuller
Age: 28
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Too good not to play in the NRL every week but where does he fit into this team? Could catch the eye of rival clubs looking for a fullback.
Selwyn Cobbo
Age: 23
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
The Broncos signing will be a free agent for 2027 before he even starts training with the Dolphins, making him one of the NRL’s biggest recruitment targets.
FREE AGENTS
Harrison Graham
Age: 24
Contract status: Unsigned
The first ever signing for the Dolphins is off contract and leaving the club after playing 11 games in three years.
Sean O’Sullivan
Age: 27
Contract status: Unsigned
Will depart the Dolphins following stints with the Panthers, Warriors, Broncos and Roosters. Has been linked with a move to Canterbury, where he could provide leadership and support for the Bulldogs’ emerging halves, Lachlan Galvin and Mitchell Woods.
Aublix Tawha
Age: 26
Contract status: Unsigned
Tawha is on the verge of signing with crosstown rivals the Broncos after the Dolphins were unable to find a top-30 spot for the New Zealand-born centre.
Ryan Jackson
Age: 21
Contract: Unsigned
Still just 21, Jackson has been a consistent performer in the Hostplus Cup, playing the past two seasons with the Central Queensland Capras.
ON THE MOVE
Josh Kerr
Age: 29
Contract status: Signed two-year deal with Dragons
Squeezed out of Redcliffe by salary cap constraints and heading back to the Dragons.
Peter Hola
Age: 26
Contract status: Signed with the Knights until the end of 2027
The fringe first-grader has only played a handful of NRL games since making his debut for the Cowboys in 2019.
RETIREES
Mark Nicholls, Kenny Bromwich
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Originally published as Dolphins roster analysis: Nine players to exit, 13 in limbo amid NRL shake-up
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