Dolphins veteran anoints new skippers
Retiring skipper Jesse Bromwich has anointed his future Dolphins captains as Wayne Bennett rocked Redcliffe by overlooking a rising star and big-name recruit for Sunday’s Queensland derby.
Bromwich, 34, will make his 317th NRL appearance when the Dolphins take on the Cowboys in a round 1 blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium and confirmed on Tuesday that he will call time on a 15-year NRL career at the end of this season.
The Kiwis great will be part of a new-look Dolphins team featuring Broncos recruits Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth for the first time.
But Bulldogs signing Jake Averillo did not make the cut, missing out to reborn centre Tesi Niu, while veteran utility Kodi Nikorima pipped rising rookie Isaiya Katoa for the No.6 duties.
Bromwich said Nikorima was deserving of a starting spot and Katoa had time on his side.
“Kodi was really good at the back-end of last year and fixed a lot of positions for us,” Bromwich said.
“He is another one who has had a really good pre-season. He is at a really good age now for a playmaker to make good decisions for us.
“Kodi as a youngster always had the talent and played a lot of positions but now he has stepped up as a leader and is very vocal.
“(Being dropped) is never easy to take. (Katoa) did very well for us last year.
“He is 20 and has a long career ahead. Everyone has these ups and downs and I am sure he will keep working hard.”
Bromwich will go to battle with North Queensland’s allstar forward pack boasting the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai.
The Dolphins will be missing Maroons forward Tom Gilbert (knee), with Ray Stone named in the No. 13 jersey as his replacement and Max Plath fighting his way on to the bench.
While Gilbert will miss the entire 2024 season, Bromwich said he was a prime candidate to take over the Dolphins’ captaincy next year along with Flegler.
“If they want to have a longterm captain there are two that come to mind,” he said.
“I am a bit biased as a forward but Tom Flegler and Tom Gilbert, either one of them would do a good job.
“With both of them, it is just the way they train. I can see them leading this group the way they should be led.
“They are both very vocal and say the right things.”