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.
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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 Raiders’ second-rower Corey Harawira-Naera and Titans’ prop Jarrod Wallace could be on the radar for the Dolphins, however, for now, we will treat it as if those signatures haven’t 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.
The Dolphins need to chase some backs they can get cheaply, and Jaxson Paulo is one of them.
The grand final winger for South Sydney is highly regarded and has already scored 13 tries in his 25 NRL appearances across the last two seasons.
While his development - like so many other young guns - has been stunted by a lack of reserve grade football since the start of 2020, the fact he has managed 25 NRL games without that to push his case is testament to his work ethic and consistency once on field.
He has never looked over awed during his time on the park and is now reportedly set for a move into the centres as 2022 rolls around, giving him an extra layer of versatility.
It's hard to imagine the Rabbitohs aren't already in the process of making him an offer to stay at the club long-term given he is set to be in their best 17 for this season, but the Nerang junior, at just 22 years of age, still has plenty of improvement left in him and could form a long-term combination in the outside backs with the already signed Jamayne Isaako from the Brisbane Broncos.
He won't be the answer to all their problems, but he would be better than a solid signing at this stage.
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.
The Dolphins might have signed more forwards than players in any other position to this point, but that doesn’t mean by any stretch that their pack is anything near complete.
What’s more, the forwards they have signed are all solid, rather than game-breaking, game-changing weapons who can be employed onto the park.
There is nothing wrong with solid forwards of course - every successful team needs players who are going to roll up the proverbial sleves and just get on with it.
But you're also not winning a competition without a game-breaker.
Hamlin-Uele has, at times, struggled to have a consistent role within the Sharks set up, and while Craig Fitzgibbon is likely to have him earmarked as a critical re-signing option, the Dolphins could well make a raid for the explosive prop.
He is one of those players you could see improving exponentially under the coaching of Wayne Bennett too.
The 27-year-old may have only managed 63 NRL appearances, but he made 30 tackle busts in 19 games last year and had an exceptionally high percentage of post-contact metres.
He may make a share of errors or not be the best defensive prop in the competition, but a pre-season under Bennett could also transform him into a more than serviceable option as the Dolphins look for some versatility in their pack.
This is one which has been rumoured plenty since Taylor was dumped out the back door by the Gold Coast Titans, having failed on his million-dollar deal.
Taylor has the talent though and Bennett was always a fan of the star, eventually letting him walk away from Red Hill during his NRL infancy for a shot at the NRL - something he wasn't going to get at Red Hill caught in a queue behind star halves.
Taylor might have been something of a failure at the Titans, but he has remodelled himself this pre-season.
Forced to work for a contract, he turned his train and trial deal into a one-year contract with the Warriorts, and one which has him in contention for a starting spot alongside Shaun Johnson as he battles Chanel Harris-Tavita and Kodi Nikorima for a spot.
The Dolphins won't be rushing out to sign Taylor tomorrow, but if he can make a strong start to the season and prove he has worked on his game, then there is no reason they won't chase him hard.
He, like Hamlin-Uele, is the sort of player who could take his game to the next level under Bennett, and more importantly, won't break the bank to get the signature done.
A solid kicking game, enough running versatility to keep defensive lines guessing and a high rugby league IQ see Taylor as one who could be an excellent signing for multiple clubs in 2023.
The Dolphins might want to do themselves a favour and jump first.
Dufty is currently the only NRL-level fullback off-contract heading into the 2023 season.
Kalyn Ponga has a player option up his sleeve, but reports sound more and more like he will take it to remain in the Hunter, rather than shifting to the Dolphins or anywhere else.
With the likes of Clint Gutherson and Dylan Edwards taken off the market and a lack of high-profile fullbacks remaining, it is potentially the most pressing issue for the Dolphins right now.
Dufty has all the potential in the world.
He might have been let go by the Dragons on account of his defence, but his performances at the Bulldogs this year will be intriguing, with Josh Addo-Carr recently stating Dufty has had an "excellent" pre-season.
His attack is special - that much was made obvious time and time again during the 2021 season at the Dragons. He scored ten tries, made 11 try assists, 47 tackle busts, 10 line breaks, averaged 154 metres per game and handled the football 452 times across his 15 starts.
Given defence is the issue, playing under Wayne Bennett you'd assume will fix that in a heartbeat.
The fresh change has also reportedly given him a new attitude to football as he attempts to extend his NRL career without going to England.
He is the key signing the Dolphins must move on immediately.