Bennett patient with Dolphins’ NRL roster

Murray Wenzel | March 16, 2022

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has defended the incoming NRL club’s recruitment strategy, saying the roster “could be finished tomorrow” if they were to settle for second best.

Bennett will lead the Redcliffe side in their debut from 2023 and was decked out in new club attire atop Brisbane’s Mt Coot-tha as the club’s website crashed on Wednesday when membership sales officially began.

Rookie Penrith playmaker Isaiya Katao, Storm trio Felise Kaufusi, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, South Sydney prop Mark Nicholls, Brisbane fullback Jamayne Isaako and Penrith utility Ray Stone have all signed with the new franchise.

They’re yet to lure an out-and-out superstar though, with Bennett on Wednesday insisting Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga and North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo were both players of interest.

But the master coach said he felt no pressure to stack up the signings yet.

“If we want to go and sign the second and third best players in the game we won’t have a problem filling a roster tomorrow,” he said.

“But we’re looking for the best players and those clubs who have them are doing all they can do hang on to them.

“That’s why we’ve got to remain patient and calm and just make sure we don’t spend our money on guys who can’t get the job done for us.

“I’m sure if we find ourselves in the market for him (Ponga) we’ll be able to afford it.”