Latest news with #Redcliffe-based
Sydney Morning Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bear hunt begins: Marquee star rules out move to NRL's newest outfit
Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth has all but ruled out a move to the NRL's newest club at the end of his 2026 contract, pledging his allegiance to the Redcliffe-based outfit for the long haul. The unveiling of the Perth Bears as the competition's 18th side from the 2027 season has opened the floodgates for poaching raids across Australia, with Farnworth – one of the most high-profile targets – to hit the open market from November 1. Payne Haas, David Fifita, Jahrome Hughes and Angus Crichton are among the top names off contract at the end of 2026. A proud Englishman, Farnworth loomed as a tempting target for the Bears – the 2021 census indicating more than a third of Perth's population had English ancestry, with almost 170,000 residents born in England. However, the two-time Dally M centre of the year declared he had no desire to leave the Dolphins, and was intent on securing his future under coach Kristian Woolf. Loading 'It's always nice to be wanted from different clubs, especially teams coming in, but I'm very happy at the Dolphins,' Farnworth said. 'I'd be a bit silly to pass up on the opportunity to play with the likes of Jack Bostock in the next couple of years and Issy Katoa … we've got some great players and some really good young players who are going to kick us on in the future, so I'd love to play with them for the next couple of years. 'I'm just focusing on my footy, that's the main thing – if you keep playing good footy, that [my future] takes care of all that sort of stuff. I'm sure we can get a deal done here.
The Age
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Bear hunt begins: Marquee star rules out move to NRL's newest outfit
Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth has all but ruled out a move to the NRL's newest club at the end of his 2026 contract, pledging his allegiance to the Redcliffe-based outfit for the long haul. The unveiling of the Perth Bears as the competition's 18th side from the 2027 season has opened the floodgates for poaching raids across Australia, with Farnworth – one of the most high-profile targets – to hit the open market from November 1. Payne Haas, David Fifita, Jahrome Hughes and Angus Crichton are among the top names off contract at the end of 2026. A proud Englishman, Farnworth loomed as a tempting target for the Bears – the 2021 census indicating more than a third of Perth's population had English ancestry, with almost 170,000 residents born in England. However, the two-time Dally M centre of the year declared he had no desire to leave the Dolphins, and was intent on securing his future under coach Kristian Woolf. Loading 'It's always nice to be wanted from different clubs, especially teams coming in, but I'm very happy at the Dolphins,' Farnworth said. 'I'd be a bit silly to pass up on the opportunity to play with the likes of Jack Bostock in the next couple of years and Issy Katoa … we've got some great players and some really good young players who are going to kick us on in the future, so I'd love to play with them for the next couple of years. 'I'm just focusing on my footy, that's the main thing – if you keep playing good footy, that [my future] takes care of all that sort of stuff. I'm sure we can get a deal done here.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Adam Reynolds detail as Queensland club declares interest in Daly Cherry-Evans
Manly's handling of the Daly Cherry-Evans situation has been likened to that of Adam Reynolds at Souths after the veteran halfback declared this will be his final season with the Sea Eagles. Cherry-Evans dropped a bombshell on Monday night when he confirmed 2025 will be his last year at Manly, although he expressed a desire to keep playing into 2026. Speaking on Channel 9, the 36-year-old made the staggering revelation that Manly haven't made a formal offer for 2026, and he decided to cut ties with the club to provide some clarity and allow the Sea Eagles to find their next halfback. In bizarre scenes, Manly officials made a two-year offer to Cherry-Evans while he was on live TV, which he rejected "respectfully". It's believed Cherry-Evans wants a new two-year deal, but Manly haven't been interested in offering anything more than a 12-month extension. Discussing the situation on NRL 360, veteran journalist Phil Rothfield questioned whether the Sea Eagles are making the same mistake as the Rabbitohs did with Reynolds. Reynolds joined the Broncos in 2022 when Souths only offered a one-year deal, which he felt was a slap in the face. 'I haven't spoken to DCE, but from what I have been told, he felt a little disrespected only getting the one-year deal,' Rothfield said. 'That was enough for Adam Reynolds to pack up and go to the Broncos. I don't know if Manly gave him a time limit because whatever Cherry-Evans did, Manly couldn't wait until the end of the year for him to make that decision. 'I've said all along it is an Adam Reynolds-type situation where he wanted two years and they wanted one year. They wanted half the money he is on now and I don't think DCE would come out and make that announcement now unless the Dolphins, Dragons or Roosters are in the running.' Speaking of the Dolphins, the Queensland club have become the first to declare their interest in signing Cherry-Evans. The Roosters and Dragons have also been linked to the 36-year-old, but the Dolphins became the first to confirm their interest on Monday night. The Redcliffe-based team view the Queensland State of Origin captain as the perfect mentor for young half Isaiya Katoa. Cherry-Evans was born in Redcliffe and played his junior football with the club until his family moved to Mackay when he was 12. His father Troy Evans played for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Brisbane Rugby League competition in the 1980s. And the Dolphins used an image of a six-year-old DCE in the club's colours in 2023 when presenting their bid for inclusion in the competition. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 24, 2025 RELATED: Broncos starting player axed as David Fifita footage raises eyebrows Manly star shares massive news about fiancee - and NRL rival's sister It's believed the Dolphins held off on approaching Cherry-Evans about 2026 until he had made a decision on whether he'd play on or retire - out of respect to the veteran halfback. But his comments on Monday night are set to open the door for rivals to make a play. "I'm definitely not looking to make a decision any time soon," he said. "I completely understand the media are going to speculate all they want. But I have no intention in engaging in something any time soon. If I was to play Origin this year, that would be the priority as well. "I get that the speculation is going to be there. But it was really important to me that (Manly) could move on. I didn't want anyone to think I was holding them to ransom. I am open to walking away and calling it a day. But there is so much love and passion for the game of footy. So if I can keep going I want to keep going." with AAP
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Corey Parker's huge prediction for Dolphins amid Wayne Bennett 'curse' in 2025
Broncos great Corey Parker has tipped first-year NRL head coach Kristian Woolf to rise above the Wayne Bennett 'curse' in 2025 and thinks his Dolphins side can play finals footy for the first time this year. Woolf was Bennett's assistant last season but has taken over the head coaching reins after the veteran mentor's move back to South Sydney, and will get an instant chance to get one over his former boss in a round one grudge match between the two sides. Bennett is a seven-time premiership winner and did wonders in his two seasons at the Dolphins, following their entry into the competition in 2023. The master coach may not have been able to guide the Dolphins into the finals during his two seasons but he helped shape a solid roster at the Redcliffe-based club and laid the foundations for success that Woolf will be hoping to build upon. However, the reality is that many of Bennett's former teams have struggled once he's left the club, with South Sydney, Newcastle and the Dragons being the three most recent examples. It's often been referred to as the Bennett 'curse' but Parker is confident Woolf can buck that trend and says his fingerprints on the Dolphins squad were clear to see, even when Bennett was there. 'The curse is Wayne Bennett and we have seen the influence he has had on teams,' Parker said on SENQ Breakfast on Wednesday. 'This year, there's a new coach and you have to understand that last year with a 72-year-old Wayne, he was more of a man manager than he was a coach. Kristian Woolf has had a huge influence on this group and understands them all very well so his transition from assistant coach to head coach should be a seamless one. 'I've heard that training has ramped and there's a bit more clarity about what the team is doing. If the Dolphins are able to stay injury free, they can certainly challenge some of the top teams. Their business model is also sound. They are not paying overs for a marquee player. Instead, they are developing their roster which will leave them in good stead. 'Will they play finals this year? I think they can. If they can have a fit team on the field for the majority of this season along with playing a consistent style of football. They have some strike players and x-factor. I think they can absolutely play finals football but it's up to them.' Maroons and Kangaroos star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is undoubtedly Woolf's biggest star and young gun half Isaiya Katoa showed signs last year that he's a superstar No.7 in the making. The Dolphins will also be boosted by the return of Origin forward Tom Gilbert, who missed all of last season with an ACL injury and have added talented edge forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to an exciting forward pack that contains the likes of Felise Kaufusi, Max Plath and veteran Kenny Bromwich. RELATED: Matty Johns calls out Munster detail in $1.2m Dylan Brown truth bomb Panthers in $100k farce as Trbojevic and Luai detail adds to fan anger Reece Walsh in huge news with Latrell Mitchell as Broncos chase $100k The Dolphins host the Titans at Redcliffe in the Pre Season Challenge on Saturday after belting the Cowboys 50-8 last weekend. Woolf's side will then turn their attentions to the March 7 round one clash at home to Bennett's Rabbitohs, who were dealt a double injury blow on Wednesday as Cameron Murray suffered a suspected ruptured achilles and Latrell Mitchell was ruled out of Saturday night's Charity Shield game. Horrible news with Cameron Murray suffering a suspected achilles rupture at Rabbitohs he's yet to have scans, an achilles rupture is one of the easiest injuries to diagnose with hands on testing. Murray will be facing surgery & 5-8 months recovery, feel for him. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 19, 2025 Murray had wrist surgery in the off-season but was firming to be available for the Rabbitohs in round one. However, Souths revealed on Wednesday that he injured his achilles at training, with Mitchell also picking up a hamstring complaint. Mitchell won't play the against the Dragons this weekend in their final trial game but will be hoping to be fit for the season-opener against the Dolphins. In a crushing blow to Souths' hopes of returning to finals footy in 2025, Murray is expected to miss up to eight months, while Mitchell will get scans to determine the severity of his hamstring injury. Mitchell was slated to play his first game since Bennett's return as coach after he was controversially allowed to use the All-Stars game for his one-match suspension. The fresh injuries leave the Bunnies in disarray, with Cody Walker and Campbell Graham also racing the clock to be fit for round one.
