Dolphins CEO Terry Reader has confirmed the NRL club is in talks with the Sunshine Coast Falcons to form an affiliation.
The Redcliffe-based outfit and the Brisbane Broncos are in discussions with the region’s main rugby league club, which competes in multiple competitions including the Queensland Cup.
It comes after the Melbourne Storm and the Falcons ended a decade-long relationship that ignited the careers of several star players.
Reader told Sunshine Coast News the Dolphins were “interested” in a connection, which could ultimately feature pathways for local players to the elite level.
“Especially given we already have very strong links and programs in place on the Sunshine Coast – that includes partnerships with the Sunshine Coast Rugby League, radio station Hot 91.1FM and the University of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“The Dolphins are currently in talks with the Falcons about how we could work together, given the Dolphins already has three affiliation agreements in place with Norths Devils, Central Queensland Capras and Redcliffe.
“The link to enable players on the Sunshine Coast to have a direct pathway into the NRL, with the Dolphins, is of most importance as we work together to keep the best kids at home in the Falcons’ system. These Sunshine Coast local players will have greater opportunity into NRL pathways in 2026 with the continuation of the NRLQ under-21 competition.
“Given the Dolphins already have an active role on the Sunshine Coast with academy and talent squads and various game development programs, things can move very quickly if we are able to find an agreement on how things could work.”
Extended squad members of NRL clubs regularly play for affiliated Queensland Cup teams but Reader said the Dolphins would not be able to provide players to the Falcons in 2026, essentially because of the Phins’ existing deals with the other three clubs.
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Falcons CEO Chris Flannery confirmed he was in talks with the Dolphins and Broncos, and said an affiliation with either would be of benefit to the Sunshine Coast club.
“Both are strong Queensland clubs and obviously both are within proximity to the Sunshine Coast, which will make the relationship a lot easier than what it has probably been with Melbourne, in terms of players and staff attending our feeder club facility and our coaching and support staff being able to attend training and utilise personal development opportunities,” he said.
He couldn’t say whether the Falcons were more likely to link with one or the other but local players would likely have a pathway to the elite level regardless.
“We are still working through the finer details with each club,” he said.
“But obviously the Falcons have been very successful over the years in signing players to the Falcons and then sending them to the Storm, and the Storm eventually signing them to full-time contracts, so whoever we sign with will once again benefit from that.
“The other positive is the great nursery of talent that we have here on the Sunshine Coast.
“Both NRL clubs will be very active in helping to develop future talent in the region and assist in coaching the coaches.
“The main goal for the Falcons is to ensure that the pathway to the NRL and NRLW is clear for our local players.”
The Dolphins only joined the NRL in 2023 but immediately encouraged Sunshine Coast locals to get behind them. The Broncos, who SCN has contacted for comment, are long established and have had a presence on the Sunshine Coast for years, with rugby league programs.
The Sunshine Coast won the state competition in 2009, when it had a link with the Manly Sea Eagles, but that relationship ended after 2010 and the team struggled to be competitive for the next few years, before it connected with the Storm.
The Falcons have since been highly competitive. They’ve featured in finals for seven of the past eight years and were runner-up in 2019.
The Storm cut their ties to the Falcons, Brisbane Tigers and North Sydney Bears last month to instead field their own ‘feeder’ team in the New South Wales Cup.
The Storm-Falcons affiliation produced a string of Falcons who graduated to first grade, including Trent Loiero, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Grant Anderson, Nicho Hynes, Tui Kamikamica, Tyson Smoothy, Lazarus Vaalepu, Chris Lewis and Darryn Schonig.
Storm stars such as Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Justin Olam, Will Warbrick, Jahrome Hughes and Sua Faalogo have also sharpened their skills in Falcons colours during their careers.
