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Former England boss Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in race for Dom Young

The Dolphins are the newest expansion side to the NRL with the Redcliffe based team set to take part in their first ever game this weekend, during the NRL pre-season challenge.

The task of starting a whole new team from fresh and leading them during their maiden campaign is a huge one but it goes to a man who has done it once before.

Wayne Bennett, former England head coach, led the Brisbane Broncos from their creation in 1988 and helped the side lift the first ever NRL title in 1998, he’ll now lead the Dolphins with former St Helens boss Kristian Woolf serving as his assistant.

The expected spending spree from the Dolphins hasn’t taken off like some thought but Bennett’s men are already looking ahead for 2024 and they’ve since spoken to one of the league’s most highly watched wingers.

Dom Young’s contract with Newcastle Knights expires at the end of this season meaning the World Cup star is free to negotiate a deal elsewhere, and the Dolphins have become the latest side to try and recruit the powerful winger.

Scoring eight tries at the World Cup truly announced him to the World stage and it’s seemed that transfer speculation has followed with both Canterbury and South Sydney sniffing around.

The Daily Telegraph are now reporting that Bennett held a private meeting with the flying winger and is incredibly keen to recruit him for 2024.

Bennett said: “We are interested in him. He is a good athlete and has some size about him. He’s played well at Newcastle and for England.

“He was a very pleasant and lovely guy to meet, well-mannered as you’d expect.”

The admission from the former England boss comes a week after it was reported Young had toured Canterbury’s facilities, highlighting his status as one of the game’s most in-demand stars.

If Young were to remain at Newcastle then he’d be joined by English youngsters Will Pryce and Kai Pearce-Paul, both of whom the Knights have signed for 2024 and beyond.

Former Super League Man of Steel Jackson Hastings is also set to reignite his career at Newcastle, however the temptation to play under one of the greatest coaches of all time could sway Young elsewhere.

News Corp in Australia are reporting won’t give up Young without a fight but given their spending for 2024 already with the aforementioned English duo it could be a case Young is allowed to leave, particularly if the Dolphins come in and splash the cash.

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