Wayne Bennett has confirmed the Dolphins have 5 positions left of their roster for 2023 as the brand new NRL franchise continues negotiations with Brisbane fullback Tesi Niu.
Coach Bennett was on the helm of the membership’s inaugural open coaching session attended by 600 followers on Wednesday.
With lower than three months to the beginning of the NRL season, the Dolphins are eager so as to add strike energy to their backline.
Bennett mentioned it was unlikely any extra gamers in the important thing halves positions could be signed for 2023 however Niu stays on his wishlist.
Niu has been given permission by the Broncos to barter with different golf equipment and Bennett confirmed the Dolphins have been in dialogue with the Tonga worldwide.
“We simply need high quality gamers. That is what we’re searching for,” Bennett mentioned.
“A few outdoors backs, and Tesi Niu is a kind of guys who may also help us there.
“He’s like plenty of different gamers on the market we’re negotiating with and speaking to.”
The Dolphins have recruited Nathan Cleary’s former understudy Sean O’Sullivan from Penrith and Anthony Milford from Newcastle however Bennett warned each must earn the suitable to begin – and keep – within the group.
“Nobody is assured a place,” the coach mentioned.
“We purchased Sean as a result of we consider he may be the halfback and Milford as a result of we consider he may be the five-eighth.
“They’ve to show to me that they’ve earned that and that they’ve the flexibility to try this job. In the event that they have not, we are going to make different choices.”
Bennett mentioned the one solution to flip the Dolphins’ newly named Kayo Sports activities Stadium right into a fortress was “by exhibiting the followers we’re a dedicated soccer group and doing the perfect for them”.
The gamers will prepare up till Christmas, have a break and return on January 4 for an eight-week block main into the opening-round NRL conflict towards Sydney Roosters.
Bennett mentioned the Dolphins could be “as prepared as every other group within the competitors” when the season kicks off.
“It’ll at all times come again to what they’ll do on the soccer area and that’s the unknown right here proper now,” he mentioned.
“We aren’t going to know that till March.”