Dolphins bench blitz merchant Kurt Donoghoe learned plenty from his final year under Wayne Bennett’s coaching about risk and reward and it's helped him to the cusp of an NRL grand final.
The 24-year-old hitman was this week named in the Rugby League Players Association dream team of 2026 as the best bench man in the NRL, as chosen by Donoghoe’s peers.
The man known - even by his mum - as “Donga” comes on after 20 minutes, playing a mixture of lock and ball-playing half, and changes the game with his elite skills, competitive spirit and physicality.
His disciplinary record is long, however. Donoghoe has been charged 10 times by the match review committee in 54 NRL matches.
In 2024 he was pushing the boundaries way too far with high shots and received a one-week ban in a trial that cost him an NRL round one position, followed by two- and three-week suspensions. The then Dolphins coach Bennett was fuming.
“Wayne gave me a few sprays about giving away penalties, flick passes, no-look passes ... all the stuff in my game that is a bit different to everyone else that he didn’t like,” Donoghoe told AAP.
“He especially didn't like me getting suspended for six games. At the time I had my tail between my legs but now I can look back and have a laugh and know it has helped shape me to become the player I am today.”
Donoghoe has still been fined seven times since 2024, but only twice this season. None of his charges have led to suspension under new coach Kristian Woolf.
There is a sense Woolf trusts him more than Bennett did and there is no doubt Donoghoe has also matured.
Ask centre Herbie Farnworth about Donoghoe and he is quick to respond with “tough as nails, silky skills”.
Woolf said Donoghoe was “unique” and the unsung hero of the team’s attack.
When he was coming off the bench at lock early in his NRL career, Donoghoe said he made it a goal to find “the fire inside and that extra edge”.
The former Newcastle Jersey Flegg No.6 has maintained the rage but he picks his moments better, now that he has nothing to prove.
“Last year I started a lot and those extra minutes helped me. I felt a lot more relaxed coming into this year,” he said.
“I don't have to overplay my hand. My approach is to stay more level-headed, play more footy and not get too hyped up.
"When I was in my early NRL career I was just finding my feet and probably trying to prove myself a bit too much.
“I made some silly mistakes … got some decisions wrong and cost myself some money and a few weeks on the sidelines."
Donoghoe arrived at the Dolphins initially on a train-and-trial deal after signing with affiliate CQ Capras. It wasn’t long before he had a top 30 contract under his belt
“I just wanted a crack with an NRL squad. I gave it everything,” he said.
Now he can smell a premiership, but first the Dolphins must get past the Sydney Roosters in a preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
“It is very important,” he said.
“A lot of us started together at the Dolphins and we’ve learned at the same rate and evolved into the NRL players we are today. I think that is going to make a really good argument for us to win this comp.”
