Veteran Prop Jesse Bromwich Named First Redcliffe Dolphins Captain: “Very Grateful and Honored”

Jesse Bromwich has all the qualities Wayne Bennett values ​​in his captains, which is why he was named the Dolphins’ first skipper for the 2023 NRL season.

The 33-year-old New Zealand skipper and former Melbourne co-captain was officially announced in his role at the Dolphins’ season opener in Brisbane on Friday night.

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The prop master, a three-time Premiership winner, will lead by example with the no-nonsense style that has been a hallmark of his career.

Dolphins manager Bennett senses a kindred spirit at Bromwich and said he is the right man to lead the club in its historic first year.

“I like the way he carries himself and his mannerisms. I like someone (as a captain) who leads from the front and there’s nothing like leading from the front than playing on the front row,” Bennett told AAP.

“Jesse is a very measured person … and that suits my style as well.”

Bromwich told AAP he was “very grateful and honored for the opportunity”.

“Being the first captain of the Dolphins NRL team…I never thought something like this would happen to me. I’m pretty overwhelmed,” he said.

“I’m now at a stage in my career where I’ve had a lot of good experiences and a few bad ones.

“I feel very comfortable in the role now. i really know who i am

“I was very fortunate to be in Melbourne under the best captain of all time in Cameron Smith.

“It’s going to be pretty easy to show this Dolphins team around because the players are all selfless and hard working. These are the types of groups I enjoy working with.”

Bennett said Bromwich “proved with his record in Melbourne and with New Zealand” that he had grown both as captain and as one of the game’s best props.

Therefore, the Dolphins sought his services.

“He’s done very well with the premierships that he’s won, with all his success and the way he’s done it,” Bennett said.

“We wanted him here because we wanted what he brought.”

Bromwich has been co-captain at Melbourne for the last two seasons having received the perfect education, learning from Smith and various leaders including Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Ryan Hinchcliffe and Bryan Norrie.

The Storm had leadership programs in which Bromwich participated. Former Collingwood Premiership winner Nick Maxwell was managerial coach at the Storm for six years and helped Bromwich find his own voice as a skipper.

Bromwich has a big job ahead of him with the Dolphins but has his younger brother Kenny, former Storm teammate Felise Kaufusi and former South Sydney veteran Mark Nicholls at his side to share the load in a pack that’s built on experience and clout based.

The Dolphins play their first Test against CQ Capras in Gladstone on Saturday.

The squad for this game, made up mostly of NRL hopefuls and Queensland Cup players, will be coached by assistant coach Nathan Fien and managed by former West Tigers, Newcastle and Canberra base JJ Collins.