The Dolphins have rewarded Jamayne Isaako for a record-breaking season by extending his contract until the end of the 2026 season.
Isaako became the first player since 1990 to top both the try-scoring and point-scoring lists on the way to being named in the Dally M Team of the Year.
He also took out four awards at the Dolphins’ Presentation Ball, including the Arthur Beetson Medal as Player of the Year.
That form has been franked with selection in the New Zealand squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
It was a wonderful return to the heights of the NRL for Isaako, who had joined the Dolphins after stints at the Broncos and Titans.
And after his stunning resurrection under Wayne Bennett, Isaako will be a Dolphin for at least three more years.
The 26-year-old signed the extension this week and next year will aim to go better than his 24 tries and 244 points he scored in 2023.
Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said the new contract was a fitting reward for Isaako.
“Jamayne could simply have not played any better in 2023,” said Reader.
“To become the first person in 33 years to be the NRL’s top try scorer and point scorer in the same year was an outstanding effort.
“And to do that in a team that finished outside of the top eight makes it an even greater achievement – when Mal Meninga did it in 1990, his team won the grand final.
“The dedication and drive Jamayne has showed this year to be the best he can has turned him into an elite player in the competition.
“So extending his contract to ensure he is a Dolphin for at least another three years was an easy decision for the club to make.”
