NRL Predictions: How Far Can the Dolphins Go In 2023?
Last updated: Mar 16, 2023, 6:07AM | Published: Mar 15, 2023, 6:30AM
It's been a dream start to the 2023 NRL season for the Dolphins.
The NRL's newest team has surprised many by winning its first two games against strong opposition.
After beating the Roosters in Round 1, the Dolphins went in as underdogs against the Raiders but recorded their second straight win after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a match-winning try in the 77th minute.
Unbeaten to start their campaign, just how far can the Dolphins go in 2023?
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Can the Dolphins Win the 2023 NRL Premiership?
Master coach Wayne Bennett has the Dolphins playing above and beyond most expectations.
The Dolphins prevailed in Round 1 with an 18% win probability against the Roosters before going on to beat the Raiders despite starting as 42% underdogs.
The two wins were impressive, but does that mean the Dolphins have a chance to win the 2023 NRL premiership?
Stats Insider's NRL Futures model gives the Dolphins a 0.5% chance of winning the premiership, with TAB having the expansion team at the $29 mark.
BATTLE 💪#NRLDolphinsRaiders pic.twitter.com/t6GGUQdhDR
— NRL (@NRL) March 11, 2023
While the Dolphins have made the most of every opportunity presented to them so far, they have a long way to go before they can achieve premiership glory.
What is more realistic, however, is a 2023 NRL finals berth.
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Can the Dolphins Make the NRL Finals?
At the start of this season, Stats Insider's NRL Futures model predicted that the Dolphins would be the team most likely to have the most losses in 2023.
A contributing factor to that was the Dolphins being assessed as having one of the toughest NRL fixtures. However, after claiming early wins against two teams they were not expected to beat, expectations have shifted.
The Dolphins now have a 29% chance of making the top eight, according to Stats Insider's NRL Futures model.
Not only that, the Dolphins will enter Friday night's game against the Knights with a 59% win probability, the first time in 2023 they will start as favourites.
Starting their inaugural campaign with a trio of wins would give the Dolphins a realistic chance of fighting for a finals berth in what would be an ideal start to their NRL tenure.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
