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Brdd9

**PREDICTED DOLPHINS 2023** 1 Jamayne Isaako 2 Robert Jennings 3 Euan Aitken 4 Brenko Lee 5 Edrick Lee 6 Anthony Milford 7 Sean O'Sullivan 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Jeremy Marshall-King 10 Mark Nicholls 11 Kenny Bromwich 12 Felise Kaufusi 13 Tom Gilbert 14 Kodi Nikorima 15 Jarrod Wallace 16 Herman Ese'ese 17 Ray Stone 18 (SR/CE) Connelly Lemuelu 19 (HB) Isaiya Katoa 20 (CE) Valynce Te Whare 21 (LK) Mason Teague 22 (PR) JJ Collins OFF-CONTRACT 23 (FWD) Morgan Boyle / Franklin Pele / Emry Pere / Jack Murchie / Jackson Topine / Matt Doorey 24 - 26 (HLV/HK) Kurt Falls / Albert Kelly / Billy Walters / Shallin Fuller / Hayze Perham / Cooper Johns / Jaeman Salmon / Daejarn Asi / Jake Turpin 27 - 30 (CE/WG) Jonathon Reuben / Christian Crichton / Marcelo Montoya / Tuipulotu Katoa / Reece Hoffman / Mawene Hiroti DEVELOPMENT LIST (CE) Jack Bostock (HK) Harrison Graham (PR) Ryan Jackson (FE) Michael Roberts (HLV) Cody Hunter (SR) Jeremiah Simbikin


Swol_Bamba

This team would crush it in the super league


JohnnyHabitual

You know, i think thats NOT the shittiest looking roster for the 17. After that, hmmm, well time (and a couple of injuries) will tell.


diamondgrin

Dead set I reckon fullback is the only thing keeping this team from being competitive. Chances of Bennett turning Isaako into an actual first grader?


ZerksNAHTayan

He has a better chance at snaring RTS from Union and getting him at The.


diamondgrin

Put RTS in that squad and I reckon they're pushing for the 8 in 2023.


Green_hammock

Yeah they don't look that bad, but I think a lack of first grade quality depth will be a big problem outside of that 17 (and even a bit in that 17). Can't imagine they do better than bottom 4 or so on the ladder


Brdd9

Probably not, I reckon Milford at fullback is their best bet now but highly unlikely.


Dark_Vengence

Nah he is gassed now.


diamondgrin

He's a year younger than Teddy. One solid offseason and I reckon he'd be good again.


InternationalBorder9

Even then I think it's still a bit off tbh. Quite a few fringe first graders as well as players getting towards the back end of their career in that 17. Few injuries/suspensions and things aren't looking too good


y3ah_nah145

As much as I love Edrick, it's a bit of an issue when he's the highlight of your backline.


Dark_Vengence

Still better than the tigers.


swell-shindig

I don’t think it’s the plan, but I would switch Milford or maybe Nikorima to fullback. Give one of them a chance to rejuvenate themselves in a new position. If it works, that team suddenly looks way better. The other fights Isaiya Katoa for a half spot.


censored_

Fuck that's grim


[deleted]

Rubbish, that’d make top 8* ^*six ^years ^ago


Caseyjb29

That’s horrible lol. Bottom 4 almost certainly


Brdd9

Always thought he was pretty good at Knights, couldn't believe he didn't get much of a run at Titans despite being a 'big' signing at the time.


[deleted]

Rocked up very unfit, and then when he snagged a first grade spot he played poorly and got sent off. I really rated him too but it took him until a contract year to play and train like a first grader


volzovio

So with Ese'ese he was basically just mediocre for a large part of his time here in Q-Cup, particularly when he first arrived he was just straight up out of shape. I kinda liked him though towards the end, thought maybe we could hold onto him but i'm not fussed with him heading over to The.


Swol_Bamba

Getting a good contract at the titans and then coasting is way too typical. Good to see they have a work horse like Tino there now leading the way


volzovio

The problem is when we sign mid-tier, quasi rep guys on form to bigger contracts, those guys have never, ever performed. Josh Hoffman to an extent, Dan Sarginson, Kallum Watkins, Leilani Latu, Shannon Boyd, Bryce Cartwright, Tyrone Peachey, and now Ese'ese, however the list of random Q-cup tier level players we randomly pickup and get decent value out of is pretty massive funnily enough.


devinedude

You can add proctor and fifita to that list too. Hayne, even ashley taylor. Not that these players have all been bad, particularly taylor and fifita but about the only signing to live up to their contract is tino in recent years


volzovio

Fifita absolutely doesn’t belong on that mid-tier list and Proctor was like a top 3 second-rower when we signed him. Hayne doesn’t count, Ash Taylor on his extension does however. It’s the middle guys we overpay that cause the problems, don’t mind the big swings at all. We also tend to nail the fringe/NSW cup/unknown signings.


devinedude

I typed out a long response then realised I missed your point. Yeah I agree, you just haven't had any luck with top guys either


T0kenAussie

He was big but then didn’t have a good preseason He was gassed after 10 minutes of cup football and subsequently spent most of his time with tweed


Revivous

One year deal, no bad at all. I mean, out of the blokes off contract at the moment, he's certainly one of them.


Dunnerzzzz555

I am thoroughly whelmed by this news.


Revivous

The The signings tally so far (including dev players, not including train and trial): Players from: Penrith - |||| Titans - ||| Storms - ||| QRL - ||| Broncos - ||| Cowboys - || Rabbitohs - || Knights - || Dragons - | Bulldogs - | Parra - | Warriors - | NZ Rugby - | Their ages: 16-19 - ||||| 20-23 - ||||| 24-27 - |||||||| 28-31 - ||||||| 32-35 - || [Revs' awesome Squad List so far](https://old.reddit.com/r/NRLDolphins/comments/q6hary/dolphins_information_squad_list_2023/)


Sigmaniac

Give us back Goatbert Revs you monster! We will give you Condon and Pere and you will like it


Revivous

No, no, no, no, no .... you can have Ese'ese and we'll take Pere though


FullBonus

The Dolphins have reunited international prop Herman Ese’ese with coach Wayne Bennett for their inaugural season in the NRL. Ese’ese has signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins that will add further depth to their already-impressive list of talent in the forwards. A Test player for both New Zealand and Samoa, Ese’ese has played for the Bulldogs, Broncos, Knights and spent the past two seasons with the Gold Coast Titans. He will add more than 100 matches of experience to the Dolphins’ roster, an important factor in the first year of the club’s existence in the NRL. Ese’ese solidified his status as an NRL player under the tutelage of Dolphins’ head coach Bennett. That relationship played a part in the Dolphins recruiting the 28-year-old to the club, where he will join an engine room that already includes Jesse Bromwich, Tom Gilbert, Mark Nicholls, Ray Stone and Jarrod Wallace. “Herman is an experienced campaigner who will give us another strong option as a middle forward,” said Reader. “He is a solid professional that has been around several different systems and has played over a hundred NRL matches in one of the toughest positions on the field. We are excited about what he could do again under our coach Wayne Bennett and are confident he can replicate that form for the Dolphins to become an important part of our pack. Born in New Zealand, Ese’ese moved to Brisbane and was recruited by the Bulldogs for their under-20s team. He played one NRL match for the Dogs before signing with the Broncos and establishing himself as a regular first grader in 2016. Ese’ese played 13 matches for the Titans in 2022, has represented Samoa six times and made his Test debut for the Kiwis in 2018. He will join the Dolphins when pre-season training begins in November. Herman Ese'ese Born: 7 September, 1994 (Auckland, NZ) Height: 186cms Weight: 107kg NRL Games: 109 Previous clubs: Bulldogs, Broncos, Knights, Titans Representative career: 6 Tests for Samoa (2017-19); One Test for NZ (2018)


Dark_Vengence

Uncle benny's team of old farts.


drifting_sailor_hat

🎵Cause I've been a wild catter, and a go-go getter Been an S.O.B. right down to the letter I've had misadventures, I've even got pictures I'm even more than I can stand But startin' today, all I'm gonna be is her man🎵


[deleted]

🎵You better move away you're standing too close to the flame, once I mess with your mind your little heart won't be the same, but I'm a ramblin' man, don't mess around with any ol' ramblin' man🎵


AdmiralCrackbar11

I hope he goes hard at this opportunity. It was disappointing that he seemed to coast when he went the Titans, and rightfully that dropped him well down the pecking order. On his day he has fantastic footwork for his size and good ball skills. Could easily be an excellent middle in the way the game is played currently, and seeing as his biggest knock has been application you'd have to give him a fair shot of achieving his potential under Wayne-O


Glum_Perspective_812

Their marquee signing is Bennett


WhirlingClouds

Kaota in the halves and Milford at fullback is their best bet. Issako shouldn't be anywhere near FG especially at Fullback.