The Dolphins had spent the best part of four seasons winning over neutrals as the likeable if unserious entertainers of the NRL, with their fetching red jerseys and TikTok-friendly try celebration. But when English centre Herbie Farnworth took to the air against the Roosters three weeks ago, the stakes rose with him. Chasing a kick from Dolphins bandmaster Isaiya Katoa, he soared above Roosters captain James Tedesco to change the club’s fate.
By half-time the Phins had put on four tries, all coming down Farnworth’s left side, for a match-winning lead. Now, the only thing standing between the Dolphins and a first grand final is that same Roosters side. The expansion club’s continued interest into October would be a surprise not only to the NRL, but Farnworth’s parents Richard and Joanne.
The Lancashire family will be in Australia for Christmas, but will not be able to attend the grand final, even if the Dolphins make it. Chief executive Terry Reader was one of 4,000 people who watched the team train on Monday. From an empty squad to one bursting with pizazz.
From a smart but modest base in Redcliffe, to a first home final at Suncorp Stadium. From pretender to contender. Broncos begone, last year forgotten: Brisbane has become Phinland.
The blueprint for how they got there will to be copied. Reader installed Wayne Bennett as the club’s inaugural coach, but with Kristian Woolf – a proven leader at international level with Tonga and in the Super League – appointed assistant with an orderly transition plan in place and enacted last season. They initially brought in established forwards like Felise Kaufusi and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, who ensured the side had a platform to compete each week.
They backed halfback prodigy Isaiya Katoa who has become the likely successor to Nathan Cleary’s throne as the game’s best halfback, and their backline – led by inaugural fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and augmented by the likes of Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo in recent years – is not just the most exhilarating in the competition: they are downright the best. The recipe has left the Dolphins one win shy of 50 after just 96 NRL matches. Melbourne Storm won the premiership in their second year of existence, but in the modern NRL the Dolphins’ near-instant success is almost as impressive.
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