Jon Lewis
The Ray White Noosa Dolphins opened the 2023 Sunshine Coast Rugby Union season at Sunshine Beach last Saturday when they took on the Maroochydore Swans. Following a 2022 season that saw the Dolphins men’s side in the very unfamiliar territory of dropping out of contention in week one of the finals, new coach Paul Robson is excited to see how his charges take up the new challenges set. “We have a completely new coaching team and a lot of younger players taking the field this year and I have been pleased with the progression and combinations in the pre-season matches,“ Robson said. “We have been working on a new style of rugby this year with a focus on an exciting running game. It will take some time to gel for sure, but with the talent and commitment I have seen in the preseason, I know the boys will grow into this style quickly and our supporters will see week on week improvements.“
Led this year by the clubs 2022 best and fairest Levi Shaw, the Dolphins have a number of new players joining the club but the most exciting thing has been to see a number of past players returning. Centre Ben Rogers has returned having being absent for most of last year and is focused on establishing himself as a long term A grader. A Dolphins Junior, Rogers possesses speed and toughness with a ‘leave nothing out there’ attitude. The unassuming but impressive Jonathan Davies also makes his return after a 12 month absence and good rugby judges are excited to see the bulked up second rower back in the harlequin strip. The trials have also produced a crowd favourite in Frenchman Florian Laporte. Possessing both size and speed, ‘Flo’ will compliment Rogers in the centres.
This weekend’s match is the first since the passing of former Noosa and Maroochydore Premiership winning coach Brent Timms and with that history at both clubs, a memorial tribute will be held prior to the match.
Match times: Womens 12.45pm, Reserve Grade 2pm, A Grade Mens 3.30pm
