Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

After nearly three decades of following the New Zealand Warriors since they made their NRL debut in 1995, I have patched over to a new team - Maybe?

Last Christmas, our oldest son came home to celebrate the festive season. Unwrapping the Christmas gifts revealed that a NRL Dolphins badged Tee shirt had travelled over the ditch for me.

Son number one had thrown his loyalty behind the new Redcliffe peninsula based NRL team, who made their competition debut last Sunday, with a stunning first up victory.

Living in the immediate vicinity of the latest NRL side, he was hooked, after attending a Dolphin fans recruitment day late last year.

Granted a National Rugby League license to become the 17th NRL team in the 2023 season, the origins of the Dolphins trace back over seventy years.

Redcliffe is situated 28 kilometers from the Brisbane CBD from where the Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in February 1947. They made their entrance in the Brisbane Rugby League competition in 1960.

Since 1996 the Redcliffe Dolphins have played in the Queensland Cup, which ranks second in stature to the NRL competition, and will continue to do so with their Queensland registered side.

Notable former Redcliffe Dolphins players, include Australian Rugby League legend Arthur Beetson, along with former Warriors Brent Tate and Reece Walsh.

It has been decided that the Redcliffe name would not precede the Dolphins name in order to broaden appeal to league fans across South East Queensland.

On Sunday the Dolphins made a stunning entrance to the NRL competition, upsetting the apple cart, in beating the Sydney Roosters in front of 32,177 rugby league fans at Suncorp stadium in Brisbane.

In my humble opinion, the Dolphins masterstroke was signing legendary rugby league coach Wayne Bennett, to a three year deal in 2021.

Bennett is widely regarded as one of rugby leagues greatest ever coaches. He has the record of most NRL titles, with seven Provan-Summons Trophy victories, amongst his multitude of outstanding achievements

A lifetime of Bennett's coaching experience and two years of precision preparation went in to the historic first-up NRL victory.

Bennett has assembled a team of hard working veterans and promising young talent that did the business against the highly touted Roosters.

Two marquee players in Samoan International Anthony Milford and Queensland State of Origin player Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, lead the talent pool. There are plenty of New Zealand connections, including former Warrior Kodi Nikorima and Kiwi Internationals in Jesse and Kenny Bromwich

With the Warriors foundation team photo on the wall and a Dolphins jersey in my wardrobe, my loyalties will be split during the NRL season.

Round 14 (3 June), will probably decide where the rest of my season loyalties lie, when the Warriors host the Dolphins at Mount Smart Stadium.

The return clash in Round 27 (2 September) with the Warriors heading over the Tasman, will decide the final qualifying competition finishing positions for both teams - and my 2024 NRL team loyalty.