Ex-Super League man tipped to shine in new NRL role

Former St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf has been tipped for NRL success, as he’s to become the Dolphins’ head coach in 2025.

The Dolphins, a new franchise Down Under, came close to making the play-offs in what was just their second-ever season this year.

They were near the top of the ladder for much of the season, but eventually narrowly missed out due to a defeat to Newcastle Knights in the final round.

They became NRL’s first team to join the league since 2007 last year, as Queensland Cup side Redcliffe Dolphins were granted a licence to join the league.

Kristian Woolf was head coach of St Helens from 2020 to 2022, winning the Grand Final in all of his three seasons with the club.

He’s now assistant coach to Wayne Bennett, but with Bennett returning to South Sydney Rabbitohs for 2025, Woolf will be head coach in Brisbane next season.

Former St Helens man tipped for success as Wayne Bennett’s successor

They’re desperate to make the play-offs for the first time in franchise history next year, and via The Daily Telegraph, Dolphins CEO Terry Reader has said: “Kristian is already a head coach. He’s not an assistant we are hoping knows how to be a head coach.

“He has won three Super League premierships in a row with St Helens and turned Tonga into a powerhouse of the international game.

“He comes in with experience, credibility and a relationship with our boys given he’s been there from day one.

“We are in a good position with ‘Woolfy’. He is very disciplined about what’s expected on the field and he’s been part of building that with Wayne as his assistant from day one.”

The Dolphins will, however, be without Tevita Pangai Junior next year, as he has signed for Catalans Dragons for 2025.