Dolphins head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan has revealed when the club is likely to land their first signing.
As they join the league at the beginning of 2023, The Dolphins are free to talk to free agents for that season from November 1, but are yet to announce any signings yet.
Having been linked to Kalyn Ponga and Brandon Smith, among others, O’Sullivan says his team is in no rush to move through talks quickly with players.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure (when our first signing will be), we’re going to be patient,” O’Sullivan said on SEN 1170 Drive
“I’d like to think by the end of next week we’d be reasonably close to it (signing a player).
“It might not be a huge name or whatever, but I’d like to think by the end of next week or the week after it’ll start falling into place a little bit.”
Having to wait a season until entering the competition, O’Sullivan says there’s both pros and cons of having players they sign play elsewhere in 2022.
“It’s a bit of the unknown, but we’ve got to back our ability to find the right player,” O’Sullivan explained.
“Obviously, it can be a bit of a disadvantage (joining the league in 2023) if we sign them and they get injured (in 2022).
“But also, we might sign a young fella for $120k and by the end of the year they’re worth double.
“There’s pros and cons on both sides, but we’ll back our judgement and get the right players and the right people into the organisation.
“I just can’t wait for that first game.”
The Dolphins will have near $10 million of salary cap space to spend in their first season in the competition.
The club hopes the aura of master coach Wayne Bennett will help attract significant free agents to sign with the second Brisbane franchise.