Legendary coach Wayne Bennett has slammed suggestions the NRL’s newest franchise will take out the wooden spoon in their inaugural season.

The Dolphins are yet to sign a marquee player to lead the club forward, but have signed a number of experienced players alongside rising star Isaiya Katoa and speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

While many are predicting the newcomers to sit down the bottom of the ladder in their debut campaign, Bennett is convinced that won’t happen.

“I’m not allowed to bet on rugby league, but if I was I wouldn’t be betting on the Dolphins winning the wooden spoon,” Bennett told AAP.

“I don’t believe we will be there. It won’t happen.”

The Dolphins officially kicked off their very first NRL pre-season with players arriving on deck for training on Monday morning.

The expansion team still has five spots in the Top 30 to lock in for their inaugural season with multiple players on train-and-trials over pre-season.

Bennett was also quick to spark the rivalry between the Dolphins and their local rivals, the Brisbane Broncos.

The 72-year-old built the Broncos’ roster in 1988 for their debut season and believes his recruitment process has been incredibly different this time around.

“Two Brisbane clubs together, it will be a bit like Manchester City and Manchester United and so many competitions around the world where you have that sort of derby,” Bennett said.

“I want it to be that way, it creates huge interest. When the (South Queensland) Crushers were here we had 40,000 people turn up to games because everyone saw the local rivalry. It will be great for the game.

“If you look at the script of what we did at the Broncos in 1988, it won’t be much different to what we do here in 2023.

“Recruiting has been different (to 1988).

“It’s been a lot more difficult because we can’t pick up half the Queensland Origin team because the Brisbane comp was pretty strong in that era and they weren’t all in Sydney. But there are 16 other clubs in the NRL.”