Former Broncos assistant Ben Te’o is being linked with a return to the Dolphins as the spotlight intensifies on head coach Kristian Woolf.
Following the Dolphins’ unexpected 52-18 defeat against the Sea Eagles in Redcliffe last week, Broncos icon Sam Thaiday suggested that Te’o could provide the solution to the club’s ongoing defensive issues.
Despite finishing in ninth place last season, the Dolphins were the competition’s leading attacking side, scoring a remarkable 721 points—41 points ahead of the Broncos, who were the next highest-scoring team and ultimately clinched the premiership.
However, in a crucial aspect, they surrendered 596 points, resulting in a differential of +125. In comparison, the Broncos conceded 508 points and achieved a differential of +172.
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf ahead of his side’s clash with the Manly Sea Eagles. NRL Images
Throughout the first five rounds of the current season, the Dolphins have registered 116 points while allowing 142 to their opponents. In stark contrast, the top-of-the-ladder Panthers find themselves a staggering 150 points in the positive.
“I could make a bold prediction right now. While I’m unsure of the discussions (Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters) has had with Ben Te’o, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him return to the Dolphins,” Thaiday remarked on Wide World of Sports’ QLDer.
“Their defensive shortcomings are evident. They were able to score 18 points towards the end of the match—while it was flashy and impressive, their deficiencies in defence remain. Last year, they proved they were the best attacking team in the NRL.”
Ben Te’o late in his playing career. NRL Imagery
“Their primary focus needs to be on tightening their defence. Bringing back a strong defensive coach like Ben Te’o could make all the difference.”
Te’o previously coached the Dolphins’ Queensland Cup side prior to his position as an assistant at the Broncos.
When it was announced that Te’o had left Red Hill, Woolf had expressed interest in potentially bringing him back. They had collaborated at the Broncos during Te’o’s playing days when Woolf was also an assistant coach.
Thaiday expressed that watching the Dolphins face the Sea Eagles was akin to observing “a bunch of young children out of their depth” who “flipped out and lost control”.
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“Phins were going sideways … I was completely taken aback,” he remarked.
“The benchmark for the Dolphins this season is to secure a position in the finals. That’s the goal they must strive for.
“They have a strong squad, and I believed they had made significant progress after their performance against the Sharks (winning 38-10)—it was a well-executed game. Even in their loss against the Broncos (26-12), they performed admirably; the scoreline didn’t reflect their effort.
“However, this recent display was utterly disappointing, especially at their home ground. Fans must be disheartened with how their team performed.”
Currently, the Dolphins sit 13th on the ladder and will have a week to regroup before they face the Panthers in Darwin.
Their upcoming schedule doesn’t get much easier, as they’ll then head to Wellington to face the Warriors before hosting the Storm and Bulldogs at home.
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