Squad Breakdown: Dolphins 2023 SuperCoach analysis

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Edrick Lee
3. Tesi Niu
4. Euan Aitken
5. Jamayne Isaako
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. Ray Stone
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Herman Ese’ese

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Team News

The forward pack at the Dolphins relatively well picks itself, with Tom Gilbert expected to start at lock, and Ray Stone off the bench.

The backline looks semi locked in, although job security of each position is pretty poor, outside of Euan Aitken.

All of Oliver Gildart, Valynce Te Whare, Isaiya Katoa and Brenko Lee will push for spots early in the season.

Connelly Lemuele is also a chance to nab a bench spot over Herman Ese’ese.

Draw

Roosters (H), Raiders (H), Knights (A), Broncos (H, Suncorp), Dragons (A), Cowboys (A), Rabbitohs (H), Titans (H), Raiders (A), Sharks (Suncorp, Magic Round)

First five round strength of schedule rating (1 toughest, 10 easiest)

6/10

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Guns

Sean O’Sullivan is the most expensive player in this squad at $653k, so there aren’t any Supercoach guns.

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Mid-Rangers

Tom Gilbert $494,100

Gilbert is attracting plenty of pre-season Supercoach attention, but I don’t see the appeal.

Many are thinking he’ll play huge minutes at his new club, but with Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi likely 80-minute edge back-rowers I’m not sure Gilbert could play anymore than 60 minutes max.

He averaged 58 minutes per game last season at a far superior team and only averaged 47 points.

People are thinking the move to the middle will create more base, and they may be right, but is he really a big enough workhorse to generate enough points? I don’t think so.

He has very little upside, and isn’t exactly starting cheap, so I’m not interested.

If this Dolphins side are on the end of some one-sided score lines it’ll take ball out of play often, giving less opportunity for him to accumulate stats.

At a similar price, I’m far keener on guys like Teig Wilton, Luke Garner and Egan Butcher.

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Cheapies

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow $330,200

Hammer is highly owned, largely due to his availability as dual CTW-FLB.

I’m not convinced he’s a Supercoach relevant player at this stage.

His workrate is poor, meaning he’s almost entirely reliant on attacking stats.

In a strong team he’s capable of this, but I’m not sure he’s going to get the attacking opportunities at the Dolphins, at least not early on.

This side is lacking star power, and it’ll take them time to forge completely new combinations.

In 80 minute games at fullback last season he averaged 35.2 points per game, at the third placed Cowboys!

I’m happy to be wrong and for him to come out and bang out a few strong scores, in which case I’ll recruit him in round 3, but I’m happy to avoid until that occurs.

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Ray Stone $246,900

Stone is tempting, but minutes may be the concern.

He’s a big worker, but lacks attacking upside, so he’ll need decent game-time to become a slow burning cash cow.

The bench make-up Wayne Bennett opts for will be key to this.

If he opts for a backline utility it’ll help immensely, if he goes with a four forward bench he’ll be hard to recruit.

I’m on the fence at the moment and the stacks of great mid-range 2RFs on the market have me leaning towards avoiding.

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Valynce Te Whare and Isaiah Katoa $200,800

Two players who are likely to feature in sides throughout the season, but they’re both unlikely to get a run in this team early in 2023.

They may need injuries or poor results to get a start, so I don’t think it’s worth starting with them. They’re bottom dollar, and both have attacking upside, so I’m more than happy to wait till they play their first two games before even considering buying.