As his side hits the point in the season in which things fell apart last year, Dolphins forward Mark Nicholls says they're too well equipped to suffer a repeat experience in 2024.
In their inaugural NRL campaign last year the Dolphins won seven of their opening 12 games to sit inside the top eight, before collapsing spectacularly after Round 13 and winning just twice from then on.
But Nicholls says the gift of time has allowed the club as a whole to develop a harder edge that will ensure that won't be an issue this time around.
"We were new last year, a new team together, a whole new club and we were still trying to find our feet I guess," Nicholls told pan66.com.
"This year from day one of pre-season we sort of just came back with a base that we created in that first 12 months.
"We've been able to improve and build on what we've done.
Apart from Round 1 when we got blown off the park, we have worked out what works for us this year and it is trying to get opponents into a cycle and then running out in the end with toughness.
Mark Nicholls
Injuries were a leading factor in the 2023 demise, with the club suffering badly from the loss of experienced players like Tom Gilbert and Jeremy Marshall-King and being forced to blood a host of rookies.
Nicholls adds that some savvy recruitment and the chance to give those younger players another full NRL season means their depth is significantly better this season.
While representative prop Thomas Flegler has been restricted to just four games since arriving at the Dolphins, centre pairing Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo have both been key contributors after joining the club over the off-season.
Less experienced talent such as fullback Trai Fuller and workhorse lock Max Plath have also stepped up to play crucial roles as injury replacements.
Fuller finesse
"We got a few handy players in at the top end, plus all the guys on the fringe have had an extra NRL pre-season and worked out how to handle it," Nicholls said.
"Thats why we've handled the injuries a bit better this year. Whoever comes up now can do a job."
On the back of their first loss in four games last weekend to the Warriors in Auckland, the Dolphins are back home at Kayo Stadium to face the Raiders on Saturday.
Wayne Bennett's men will be without Queensland reps Felise Kaufusi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, while the Raiders are missing strike second-rower Hudson Young who is in camp with the Blues.
"It's important one for us this week. We get the Sharks and Storm and some of the bigger teams over the next few weeks and this period can set up the end of your year if you keep playing well," Nicholls said.
"Last year it's obviously the point where we sort of fell off, so it's important that we focus on continuing to build through this period and getting some wins."
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