Morgan Knowles says he is feeling increasingly comfortable in the NRL as the Dolphins continue their strong run of form under coach Kristian Woolf.
After arriving from St Helens ahead of the 2026 season, the English forward admitted the transition to rugby league in Australia presented some early challenges, particularly adapting to the conditions.
“It is a different game over here with the speed of it,” Knowles said.
“The heat was probably the biggest challenge in the first four or five weeks. That’s something I’m not used to, but now it’s cooled down a little bit and I feel like I’ve adjusted.”
Now several months into his first season at the Dolphins, Knowles believes he has settled into both the club and life in Queensland.
“I definitely feel like I’ve settled in now. I feel much more comfortable and I’m enjoying my rugby.”
Knowles has become an important part of a forward pack that has played a key role in the Dolphins’ recent success.
“We’ve got a great forward pack and a great team across the board,” he said.
Having previously played under Woolf at St Helens, Knowles said the coach’s influence was a major factor in his decision to join the Dolphins.
“Woolfy was a big reason why I chose the Dolphins,” Knowles said.
“He knows the sort of player I am and what I bring. You’re not coming into a new team trying to impress the coach to get picked.”
Knowles said Woolf has brought many of the same philosophies that delivered success in England, with toughness and effort forming the foundation of the team’s game.
“What we’ve built everything on is hard work and defence. We’ve got plenty of strike in our side, but that comes off the back of earning the right first.”
The Dolphins currently sit inside the top four and Knowles believes the team’s consistency over the past two months has been the biggest difference.
"The talent’s always been here, but I think what we’ve brought this year is that ruthless defence and mentality shift.
“You can see how well we’re attacking, but that’s coming off the back of the hard work we’re doing defensively.”
With six Dolphins players involved in State of Origin this year, Knowles said the representative honours reflected the club’s strong form.
“We’re all really proud of those boys. It shows how well we’ve been going as a team.”
As for the Origin arena itself, the Englishman admits he has quickly learned just how much the interstate rivalry means in Australia.
“You can’t get away from it over here.”
“I support Queensland because we’ve got more Queensland boys in there, but really I just want our Dolphins boys to go well.”
