Dolphins 'have cap space' for key 2024 recruits: Reader

The Dolphins were in the race for Manly's highly touted Fainu brothers - Latu and Samuela - but pulled their offer a week before the pair signed with Wests Tigers.

Reader said the Dolphins, just two points outside the top eight on 22 points, would be adding to their roster for 2024.

"I think there is a lot to be excited about with where the team is at now, before we start to add even more quality next year," Reader said.

"(Dolphins head of recruitment) Peter O'Sullivan watches every game of football. We have still got cap space and we are always on the lookout to strengthen our squad.

"This is about building a squad forever, or setting up our future. It was never all about 2023."

The Dolphins were tipped to be inaugural season flops by pundits but have proven critics wrong on the field, while extending key spine members Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2027) and Jeremy Marshall-King (2025) to long-term deals.

"When we were building this squad anyone would think we were just building a Q Cup side and thought,' 'Geez I hope they do OK', but that was never the case," Reader said.

"We have got premiership winners, captains of their country, Origin players. I think we had seven Origin players in our squad this year and 15 that have played for their country.

"We were always confident we would be competitive and with Wayne as coach have a team people would be proud of.

"The other thing we said is that we would surprise a few people, and we've done that."

The Dolphins also were questioned about how they would perform in 2023 without a so-called "marquee player".

Tabuai-Fidow's electric season at fullback for the Dolphins and at centre for Queensland has put him in that category.

"Hammer is what the public would define as a genuine marquee. He is one of their favourite players in the whole of the NRL," Reader said.