MAROONS mentor Billy Slater believes the birth of the Dolphins can strengthen Queensland’s Origin program, and has backed Wayne Bennett to bring success in the expansion club’s embryonic years.
The Dolphins will enter the big league in 2023 as Queensland’s fourth club, and part of the NRL’s expansion push was a deliberate strategy to ensure the Maroons remain competitive in the State of Origin arena.
Statistically, Queensland have punched above their weight for 42 years at Origin level, with arch-rivals New South Wales enjoying an embarrassment of selection riches.
Of the NRL’s 510 full-time players next season, only 101 are eligible for Queensland.
That means Slater has just under 20 per cent of the NRL to choose from, putting the Maroons at a huge disadvantage annually as they back their top echelon of Queensland players to match it with the Blues.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys is aware of the talent inequity at Origin level, and it was a major reason why he pushed for NRL expansion into Queensland via the Dolphins.
V’landys believes a fourth team in Queensland will eventually bolster their playing stocks and Slater agrees, pointing to the recruitment of former Maroons Origin utility Anthony Milford, who returns to the Sunshine State after a stint in Newcastle.
“I think the creation of the Dolphins is exciting for the game and it can only benefit Queensland rugby league,” Slater said.
“There will be a lot of anticipation around them, and it’s going to be tough for them in their first season.
“But they have got one of the greatest, if not the greatest, coaches to set up an organisation in Wayne Bennett. It all starts at the top and filters its way down, so they have started in a great manner by securing Wayne.
“Anthony Milford can surprise people at the Dolphins. I thought he was one of Newcastle’s best players in the back half of last season, and when you think about a coach who can extract more out of players like Milford, Wayne Bennett is the guy.
“He did it with the Broncos, with Jamie Soward at the Dragons and even Cody Walker at Souths.
“I think a move to the Dolphins can re-energise Anthony Milford if he wants it badly enough.”
The Dolphins have taken charge of development in the Central Queensland region, which boasts more than 10,000 juniors, putting the area alongside Penrith as one of rugby league’s most prolific nurseries.
The NRL’s 17th team has struck a feeder-club deal with the Central Queensland Capras, who helped produce the Maroons’ Rockhampton-born superstar Cameron Munster.
Bennett is passionate about Queensland’s playing depth – he helped set up the QAS Emerging Origin program in 2001 – and is confident the Dolphins will help cultivate more Maroons players.
“People don’t realise the size of our catchment,” said Bennett, the former Queensland coach.
“I can’t give the Dolphins people enough credit for what they have done the first 12 months off the field in regards to their development work from Redcliffe to Rockhampton.
“It has been quite remarkable the amount of development work we are doing.
“It’s not just a hit-and-run operation.
“There is a huge catchment area in Central Queensland, and the Dolphins will be a key contributor to producing more Queensland kids for the NRL.
“We already have five full-time staff working in our catchment. Rockhampton is a big league town. Wide Bay and Bundaberg have been neglected for some time, but they won’t be neglected by the Dolphins.
“The NRL wanted the Dolphins to take care of the grassroots (in Queensland), that was part of the licence being awarded, and we will continue to deliver on it.”
Slater believes Queensland Origin duo Milford and Felise Kaufusi will ensure the Dolphins have the experience to be competitive in their formative years.
“They have some good, experienced players –especially the three boys from Melbourne in Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, and ‘Fuse’ (Kaufusi),” Slater said.
“I played with them at the Storm, and I know they will instill a good work ethic and training environment, they will uphold standards on the field and they will review games with honesty.
“It will be tough in terms of depth, and the quality of players is going to be distributed more evenly now that there are 17 teams in the game.
“The Dolphins won’t be the only team to face that hurdle. But having Wayne and those new signings in place, they are on the right track.
“I am looking forward to seeing how they play. The Dolphins will give some guys a fresh opportunity.
“Anthony Milford has played Origin and he has played his best football under Wayne, while Sean O’Sullivan (former Roosters, Broncos and Penrith halfback) has shown he can control a game of footy and a football team.
“He has been in a strong environment at Penrith and learning from Nathan Cleary … I’m optimistic about the Dolphins.”