Wayne Bennett has finalised his coaching team for the Dolphins’ assault on the 2023 NRL competition by signing another Queenslander to join his staff.
Nathan Fien will join Bennett’s team as an assistant coach beside Tonga’s World Cup mentor and fellow Mount Isa-born assistant Kristian Woolf.
Fien and Bennett have shared success in their past as part of the Dragons’ 2010 NRL Grand Final victory.
Bennett broke a 31-year drought for the Dragons with Fien coming off the bench in the decider to score an important try.
Fien also played State of Origin in 2001 under Bennett as the coach engineered a stunning series victory for Queensland, later representing New Zealand in 22 Tests after qualifying under residential rules while playing for the Warriors.
Now Fien, who has been coaching successfully in the Illawarra region for the past six years, will help Bennett plot the path of the Dolphins as they enter the NRL as the 17th team.
The vacant assistant coaching position was the last empty slot on the Dolphins’ football organisational chart, and the club now has everything in place to begin pre-season training next month.
Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said Fien was a great fit for the club.
“Nathan is a young coach with a big future and has first-hand experience with Wayne’s style of coaching,” said Reader.
“It is also advantageous that he is a Queenslander and understands the long history of the Dolphins and what it means for the club to ascend to the NRL.
We now have Nathan and Kristian in place to assist our head coach, and a world-class performance and football management team in position to support them.
“We are looking forward to the beginning of pre-season training in just a few weeks and are excited that our debut in the NRL is moving closer every day.”
