Warriors to cut ties with Dolphins

Cameron George confirmed the Warriors will cut ties with the Redcliffe Dolphins at the end of next season and plan to have their own lower grade teams in 2023.

The Dolphins won the battle to become the 17th NRL team this week and will start signing players from November 1.

The Warriors have had a close relationship with Redcliffe over the past two seasons, when the club has been able to put players into their Queensland Cup team each week.

Their alliance will ramp up considerably next season when the Warriors are based in Redcliffe, northern Brisbane, and play half their home games at Moreton Daily Stadium.

‘‘I’m extremely happy for them,’’ George said of Wednesday’s announcement from the NRL.

‘‘They’re a really good footy club and team of people. The region deserves the opportunity to be a part of it.’’

George said it had long been intended that 2022 would be the final year of the arrangement with Redcliffe and in 2023 the Warriors intend to again have their own reserve-grade team as well as agegrade sides.

‘‘Our relationship with Redcliffe was always expiring at the end of 2022,’’ he said. ‘‘It was strategically done that way because of their application to the NRL.

‘‘Based on that, we’ve got plans beyond 2022 and hopefully we’re back to normal, whereby we can participate in Australian-based competitions with our own teams.’’