Hot favourites for the wooden spoon before a ball was kicked in their maiden season in 2023, the Dolphins exceeded all expectations by finishing 13th.And the team was travelling superbly mid-season before injuries and lack of depth brought them undone and they crashed and burned, losing 10 of their last 12 games.Wayne Bennett and recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan have worked hard to steady the ship, getting rid of some dead wood and signing three top-flight players in Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Thomas Flegler (Broncos) and Jake Averillo (Bulldogs). The Dolphins have the squad to make the finals this year - if they learn the lessons from their poor end to last season and have a good run with injury.But the Dolphins' greatest weapon last season - right from the shock first round defeat of the Roosters - was their ability to ambush rivals.They went into most games as underdogs and Bennett was able to get his troops to hustle and bustle their way to victory.That advantage is now gone - rivals enter games this year knowing they're are in for a tight tussle against Redcliffe and the underestimating factor is no more.
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