EXCLUSIVE: Could following AFL's lead help the Dolphins sign a marquee player?
Panthers and Roosters legend Brad Fittler believes there is no way any of the current NRL teams would support an increased salary cap for expansion clubs, regardless of the move potentially benefitting the game.
The conversation comes after Wayne Bennett admitted players were not keen to sign with the Dolphins as they were unsure who they would be playing with.
The Dolphins will enter the league ahead of the 2023 season and supercoach Bennett is charged with compiling a 30-man roster strong enough to compete with the best in the business.
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Wayne Bennett poses for a photo with the Dolphins Heritage jersey Getty
Despite the NRL pre-season being just months away, the Dolphins have signed only 19 players to the top squad, complemented by several development contracts.
The Dolphins look fairly stocked for experienced forwards, with the likes of Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, and Kenny Bromwich committed to the expansion team. But the current list lacks genuine star power.
One driver of this could be the squeeze of expansion diluting the league's talent pool.
"We're expanding the game and there are less people playing," Andrew Johns told Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth.
With growing calls for the league to either step in and help the Dolphins sign a marquee player, or delay their introduction, thoughts have turned to how fellow footy code, the AFL, has handled the introduction of two new sides in recent years.
In comparing the AFL's expansion process to that of the NRL, the AFL provided expansion teams the Gold Coast Suns (2011) and GWS Giants (2012) with recruitment concessions to ease the transition into the league.
The Storm's Cameron Munster is one of the players to have knocked back Wayne Bennett's advances. NRL Imagery
These measures included additional draft selections, early access to recruiting junior players, access to uncontracted and previously listed players in the offseason prior to its entry, an elevated salary cap and the ability to acquire up to 16 out of contract players featured on rival's AFL list.
As the NRL does not host an annual draft for new or unsigned players, Nine's Freddy and the Eighth host Mathew Thompson asked whether foundations clubs should receive a boosted salary cap to help complete their roster.
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"I think what happens with the AFL is the league has set the tone there," Fittler said.
"The people that run the NRL are doing a good job, but I find the clubs have a really big say in how the game's run. So, that's the big difference.
"There's no way in the world the clubs are giving any salary cap exemptions.
"I think obviously for the better of our game, and spreading the game, and giving [the Dolphins] a chance, I think it would be a smart thing to do, but there is no way in the world the clubs would allow it. It ain't happening."
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