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Young Dolphins gearing up for action
The Dolphins Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup sides switch from training to game mode when they take on Toowoomba at Dolphin Oval in a trial game on January 30.
Both squads began training three nights a week in November and are looking for improved performances in 2010.
The Mal Meninga Cup side were a bit slow out of the blocks with coach Dave Boye implementing new structures in both attack and defence that the boys took a bit of time to adjust to.
"I was a bit concerned before Christmas but since we returned in January we have continued to improve in all areas," Boye said.
"Billy McCartney, Nick Wilson and Cam Humphreys have been training well and will lead us around the park with control," he said.
Toowoomba products Blake Curran and Daniel Holmes have settled in well at Dolphin Oval and will be key players for the side in this completion.
"I am very happy with them, they have shown they can quickly adapt to a new environment and are both strong boys," Boye said.
Boye says a player to watch is second rower Christian Morris whose father Brett played fullback for the Dolphins in the late 80's.
"Christian is a good kid, a very courageous player that will lead by example."
The Cyril Connell Cup side started off with 51 players vying for a position in the 25 man squad that was announced prior to Christmas.
The boys have been training three nights a week with a lot of focus on skill work and technique.
Coach Steve Peoples said "I couldn't have been happier with the effort since we started, they have been doing things they wouldn't have done a lot of in the past especially on the strength and conditioning side of things."
The squad has a number of players from the Dolphins affiliate clubs Caboolture, Deception Bay and Bribie Island as well a player from Goondiwindi and one from South Australia.
A player to watch is five-eighth Tom Opacic another second generation Dolphin, his father Drago played lower grades for the Dolphins in the 80's.
"Tom played for Deception Bay last year and has played a bit of rep footy. He has trained really well and will be a key player for us," Peoples said.
Dolphins' juniors Mitchell Liggins and Jayden Best have also been impressive at training and should go well in this competition.
"We play Norths in the first fixture and they are the benchmark for both competitions, it'll be a good test to see where we are at" Peoples added.
"Between Norths and the Titans there is a lot of NRL contracted kids, it will be a good measuring stick for our boys to see where they need to get to".
The Dolphins commence fixtures on February 14 against Norths at Bishop Park.
By Dolphins Media - January 24, 2010