Robbo is back on deck

GOLD Coast Dolphins legend Andrew Robinson will come out of retirement today as the club’s third grade side resumes their quest for a one-day finals spot.

The only Dolphins player to pass 10,000 first grade runs and a 27-time hundred-maker, Robinson will line up for Gold Coast in their battle with Wests at Cheltenham Oval.

The 38-year-old, who has taken on an assistant coaching role with the club this season, made 12 Sheffield Shield and seven List A appearances for Queensland between 2010-12 and also played seven games for the Brisbane Heat.

He retired from Dolphins duties at the end of 2015-16 before two dominant Kookaburra Cup campaigns with Coomera Hope Island and is now hoping to pass on his experience to Gold Coast’s rising talent.

The Dolphins’ third graders lost their season-opening limited-overs clash with Wynnum Manly and will likely need to win their three remaining games to qualify for the January 19 semi finals.

In first grade, Gold Coast will welcome back Bulls quick Xavier Bartlett but lose Queensland under-19 allrounder Hugo Burdon for this weekend’s trip to Souths.

Overlooked for the Queensland side taking on NSW at the SCG in the Shield from today, Bartlett will play his first game for the Dolphins since October 26.

A middle-order batsman and handy legspinner, Burdon is part of the state side competing at the National Under-19 Championships in Perth from December 2-12.

Batsmen Scott Palombo and Max Houlahan are the other new faces in the Gold Coast side this weekend, taking the place of Jack Cooper and fast bowler Sam Yabsley.

The Dolphins sit eighth on the two-day ladder ahead of back-to-back action against Souths at Fehlberg Park today and tomorrow.

They missed a golden opportunity to move into the top four against Redlands last weekend, recovering from 6-87 to be bowled out for 210, 15 runs short of victory.

It continued a frustrating loss-win sequence over their first five two-day outings.