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.
2. Ashley Taylor (New Zealand Warriors)
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.
