“Surely now it’s time to announce the Cumbrian Otters” – How social media reacted to the NRL’s 17th team

The NRL has announced that they’ll be welcoming a 17th team into the league in 2023 in the shape of The Dolphins. They’ll become the second Brisbane based club in the competition as the NRL looks to expand. It’s another step forward for the game as it’s appeal widens again. Well, that’s my take but what was yours? How did social media react to the announcement?

Plenty of supporters felt that this should only be the beginning where expansion is concerned. They urged the NRL to include more teams from outside New South Wales including a second New Zealand team and a side from Perth.

That's great now do Perth & a second New Zealand city. https://t.co/QS9EbgoO5f

— Rugby League Dinosaur (@DinosaurLeague) October 13, 2021

Redcliff Dolphins. Another suburban Brisbane football club. Welcoming but the comp is called the NRL. That's the 'National Rugby League'. How about getting other States involved. WA-SA-NT..they all have domestic comps. Broaden it out.

— AndyOges (@andyoges) October 13, 2021

That said, not everyone is convinced by the move and one fan created a comical English equivalent.

Surely it’s now time @TheRFL @SuperLeague to announce the Cumbrian Otters 🦦⛰ pic.twitter.com/GEKUuGh76X

— What would Brian Bevan say? 🇺🇦🎙🎧 (@WhatBevan) October 13, 2021

Naturally, the news sparked speculation over who their first marque signing could be.

First signing would have to be a marquee player. Maybe Munster.

Ponga would be a good first off get as well (although I have no idea where is contract is at with the Knights).

— journalistagendas (@journalistagen1) October 13, 2021

Some noted that plenty of NRL clubs could be about to lose a lot of their young stars with the promise of regular rugby with the Dolphins. Even Melbourne could be about to lose their Queensland contingent.

So good – investing in all the Queenslanders finally to bite them in the arse pic.twitter.com/2sy1660IlI

— OOOL 🏉 (@OOOL1908) October 13, 2021

Dolphins coming for the Tigers remaining young talent so that the media can bang on about how they lost more ‘stars’ for years to come #nrl pic.twitter.com/1LVCGs0f4N

— OOOL 🏉 (@OOOL1908) October 13, 2021

For those associated with the club, it was an emotional day as dreams came true.

I actually went to ring Dad today when the confirmation came through that the dolphins are into the nrl! He took me to dolphin oval every other weekend as a kid. He'd so so happy!

— Jules🖤💛❤ (@julsie75) October 13, 2021

That said, the Redcliffe Dolphins may no longer exist. Plenty of people questioned the name with discussions over whether they should take on the Redcliffe name or change it to something else.

I wouldn't mind seeing them called the 'River City Dolphins'.

It's unique from the Broncos, and represents more of the area.#NRL

— I (@i2a7t) October 13, 2021

Most questioned why they weren’t given a complete name, whether Redcliffe or otherwise, and suggested that they needed to be as separate to the Broncos as possible.

https://twitter.com/AntRLFC/status/1448235690806894592?s=20