Parker identifies what the Dolphins are missing in 2025

SEN’s Corey Parker believes there are a few holes in the Dolphins’ playing roster as the expansion club remains without a win in season 2025.

The Dolphins suffered their fourth consecutive loss to cross-town rivals Brisbane in troubling conditions on Friday night. The 20-12 loss means the Dolphins and the Eels are winless after the opening month.

Parker believes the Dolphins lack an extra punch through the middle of the field after the Broncos’ forward pack dominated proceedings.

“Coach Kristian Woolf certainly has some big decisions to make,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.

“I went to the footy on Friday night (at Suncorp Stadium). Unfortunately for the Dolphins and Kristian Woolf, they are still sitting on a duck egg.

“They hung tough for long periods of time.

“They are one or two middle forwards short of where they need to be.

“They need it to be more competitive and have more mobility.

“That’s what they need if they want to mix it with the big boys and the big teams.

“Mark Nicholls is just a little bit older now. Ray Stone and Oryn Keeley, when you are up against the likes of Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, have to give a bit more.”

The Dolphins take on the Gold Coast Titans in Round 5 at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night.

Elsewhere in the NRL, a leaked email from head of football Graham Annesley has revealed that all 17 clubs have been put on notice over contact with the head.

After a series of ugly hits last weekend, Annesley’s email said the league would be enforcing a sin-bin crackdown after referees had failed to correctly protect players.

Jarome Luai, Tom Gilbert, Jordan Riki, and Reed Mahoney somehow all remained on the field before being issued fines and or suspensions after the fact.

The email conceded that match officials had failed to follow correct policy and as such at least two officials are now facing the chop.

“There were several incidents of foul play in round 4 where on-field action by match officials fell short of policy that has been in place for several seasons,” Annesley wrote in the email which was released by the Daily Telegraph.

“Of particular concern, on four occasions the sin bin was not used for incidents involving direct forceful contact with the head/neck of opponents.

“The lack of appropriate on-field action in these cases should not be seen as a precedent for future similar incidents.”

“Match officials have been shown these incidents today to reinforce their errors in applying NRL policy, and clubs should expect the required standard to be implemented throughout the remainder of the season.”

BY SEN/CHARLES GOODSIR