The Dolphins have turned to the Illawarra for their latest player raid, securing the signature of rising star Tex Anderson.
The rising talent has burst through in junior representative programmes over the last 12 months, turning out for the Illawarra South Coast Steelers in the Laurie Daley Cup and Illawarra Steelers in the SG Ball.
The Collegians Rugby League junior has played all his footy for the same club in the Illawarra up to now, and has impressed at fullback and on the wing in recent times.
He has grown up playing all over the park though, and could become one of the NRL's next genuine utilities if he breaks through at the Dolphins, where he has signed until the end of 2027.
His management confirmed the signing on their social media channels this week, with Anderson making the move north immediately at the end of the Harrigan Cup season in the Illawarra, where he has been a standout for Collegians.
In the final game of the regular season against the Dapto Canaries, Anderson scored four tries, including the final three of the game, and will suit up for the qualification final against the Thirroul Butchers this weekend where he is again named on the wing.
Despite being still eligible for SG Ball next season, he has taken to senior rugby league brilliantly, winning him the opportunity to join the Dolphins on a pathways deal through to the end of next year where he will likely work his way through the under-19 Mal Meninga Cup and under-20 NRLQ competition next year.
Anderson is not the first junior who has been poached from the Illawarra by the Dolphins, and he could now look to follow in the footsteps of Jack Bostock.
Bostock, who made his State of Origin debut this year with the NSW Blues and could be in the mix for the Australian Kangaroos squad when they play the World Cup at the end of the year, moved from the Dragons to the Dolphins prior to his NRL debut, and hasn't taken a step back in Redcliffe.
Now, Bostock is looking at a monster contract upgrade and could be one of the most sought after players on the open market if he arrives on November 1 without a deal.
The Dolphins face a major contract crunch, particularly in the outside backs where Bostock is joined by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth out of contract at the end of 2027.
Tabuai-Fidow and Cobbo appear likely to remain at the club, but with Jake Averillo already leaving at the end of this year, opportunities for Tevita Naufahu and LJ Nonu could increase in the coming years, which will open up more opportunities across the Dolphins' feeder clubs at QLD Cup level - something Anderson will now be striving for while in the Redcliffe system.
While Anderson is the latest departure from the Dragons, the Red V have had a fantastic season in the contract space, adding six elite talents for next year and locking up all of their first-grade established junior forwards on new long-term deals.
