Cowboy Lemuelu signs for Dolphins

THE Dolphins have struck another recruitment blow on the Cowboys by poaching hulking back-rower Connelly Lemuelu as Wayne Bennett also targets in-form fullback Scott Drinkwater.

A fortnight after snaring forward firebrand Tom Gilbert from the Cowboys, new expansion franchise the Dolphins have secured Lemuelu on a two-year, $400,000 deal.

The Dolphins will announce Lemuelu’s acquisition on Wednesday and the signing of the rising Cowboys utility comes just 24 hours after the NRL’s 17th team lured Robert Jennings from the Panthers on a three-year deal.

A strapping figure at 190cm and 106kg, Lemuelu has impressed in the Queensland Cup this season, catching the eye of Dolphins scouts with his two-try destruction of Redcliffe in Northern Pride’s 30-18 victory last month.

The 23-year-old has played 21 NRL games since his topgrade debut in 2020, featuring most recently in North Queensland’s 18-12 defeat of Canberra in round 6.

The hard-running Auckland-born product was also a member of the Cowboys squad which won the NRL Nines tournament in Perth two years ago.

Originally blooded in the NRL as a winger or centre, Lemuelu was converted into a back-rower in pre-season by Cowboys coach Todd Payten and he has impressed with his move to the forwards.

Dolphins coach Bennett likes the versatility of Lemuelu, who has the speed to compete in the outside backs but can also provide back-up for the club’s major second-row recruits Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich. The Dolphins are also eyeing off the classy Drinkwater, but he is contracted for another year and North Queensland have no intention of letting him go.