AdminA player from The Dolphins’ Top 30 roster has departed the organization to join a competing Queensland NRL team in pursuit of fresh opportunities. Michael Waqa initially signed with The Dolphins on a train-and-trial basis before being elevated to their development roster. He was later promoted to the club’s Top 30 before the current season, having progressed from the team’s Under-18s Academy squad in the Mal Meninga Cup.
Waqa, who was part of last year’s Queensland Under-19s and previously represented Queensland Country at the Under-17 level, was regarded as one of the premier emerging forwards within The Dolphins’ ranks and even served as captain for their Mal Meninga Cup team. His performance this year included competing against the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
Yet, the forward’s tenure with the club has concluded, as he has recently joined rivals Brisbane Broncos, enhancing their already robust lineup of young forwards. Since his transition to the Broncos, Waqa has participated in four games for the club in the NRLQ Series, proving to be an asset in the forward pack and scoring a try last week against the Gold Coast Titans.
“Dolphins CEO Terry Reader remarked on the young talent in a 2023 statement, saying, ‘Michael did exceptionally well in his first pre-season training with NRL players. ‘
Reader added, ‘We have consistently articulated that one of our goals is to witness local young talents ascend through the ranks and play NRL with the Dolphins.
Michael has the chance to progress from the juniors directly to the NRL, and we are optimistic about his future prospects. ‘”
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