The Dolphins have been widely ridiculed for their recruitment strategy thus far ahead of their inaugural season in the NRL.
The club, who have been able to negotiate with players coming off-contract at the end of 2022 for the best part of four months, have managed just a handful of signings and, as yet, are yet to sign a decent spine option.
While they have reportedly missed out on a stack of options at dummy half - including Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney and Apisiai Koroisau - the club are yet to be majorly linked with other positions in the spine, despite talent left off-contract dwindling.
RELATED: The 17 best players still off-contract for 2023
On top of the options at dummy half, they have also missed out on the likes of Patrick Carrigan and Christian Welch, who both elected to re-sign with the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm respectively.
They have managed to raid the Storm, signing Kenneath Bromwich, Jesse Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi, while Mark Nicholls has signed from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Ray Stone from the Parramatta Eels and back Jamayne Isaako from the Brisbane Broncos, as well as little-known duo Valynce Te Whare and Isaiya Katoa.
They have also managed to add two development deals for 2023 in brother of James Roberts, Michael Roberts and Harrison Graham.
Wayne Bennett recently indicated the club would now be happy to sit back on their hands and wait for more contracts to fall once the season kicks off, however, with 22 still to sign, the merits of that strategy have been called into question.
That has become even more so the case when you consider five of their signings thus far are veteran forwards who will all either be, or approaching, the wrong side of 30 by the time the first ball is kicked in 2023.
Recent reports have indicated Raidersโ second-rower Corey Harawira-Naera and Titansโ prop Jarrod Wallace could be on the radar for the Dolphins, however, for now, we will treat it as if those signatures havenโt happened.
This is a club who desperately need spine players, outside backs and young forwards, so here are the five signatures they should be chasing immediately.
4. Jack Bird (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Bird is a serious utility option, and in the current climate, is an option the Dolphins should be making every play in the world for.
While he has had injury problems during his career and didn't click at all during his stint with the Brisbane Broncos, Bird has the ability to play fullback, centre, second-row and lock as well as in the halves.
He is the ultimate Mr Fix It and while that in itself can be a problem if he doesn't lock down a role, his form at the St George Illawarra Dragons and reported work during this pre-season should see him become a valuable commodity for any club.
The fact the Dragons haven't moved to lock him down long-term is actually rather concerning for fans of the famous Red V given how far past November 1 we now are.
Bird's 2021 season saw him manage 22 games, scoring four tries, adding seven try assists and a staggering 83 tackle busts while also defending solidly in multiple roles.
His touted move into the middle third for 2022 will be intriguing to follow, but he should be high on the list of priorities for Bennett and the Dolphins.
