Who’s Who in 22, Sport: Bob Jones
Dolphins Chairman Bob Jones, pictured centre, has been at the helm at the club during its greatest period of transition in 2022 as it has prepared to take its place on the national stage.
It’s been a big year with the Dolphins now ready to take the field in 2023 as an NRL club.
The news on October 13, 2021, that the Australian Rugby League Commission had awarded the 17th licence to the Dolphins was the culmination of a 50-year association with the club for Jones.
He played for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the late 1970s and 80s, and has been a director since 1993.
Jones credits the club’s strong position to his forebears who had the vision to secure land at Redcliffe for their own oval in the 1970s.
That crystal-ball decision not only ensured the club had its own ground on which to play, but also land that has since been developed for its health precinct and aquatic centre, and shopping centre.
Both developments have established revenue streams which have created a strong financial base from which to operate an NRL Club, something that set the Dolphins’ NRL bid apart from the rest.
Since winning the licence in October 2021, Jones and the club have secured Super Coach Wayne Bennett as inaugural coach and built a strong team on and off the field to set the Dolphins up for success well beyond their first season.
They have also set up a strong management structure, with experienced operator Terry Reader driving the bid and now the Dolphins NRL CEO.
Jones said the club had ambitions to play at the highest level since the 1960s but stepped up their plans after the Gold Coast Titans became the last team to join the NRL in 2007.
About Bob Jones
Jones came to Redcliffe from Gunnedah in 1975 where he remained during his playing career except in 1977 when he moved to Sydney to play for the Roosters. He is Dolphin No. 194.
He has been a committee member of The Redcliffe District Rugby League Football Club Incorporated since 1993 and a life member of The Redcliffe District Rugby League Football Club Incorporated since 2000.
Jones succeeded long-time Chairman Des Webb, when he died in 2011, and is now also Chairman of the NRL club.
He is looking forward to seeing the Dolphins achieve their goal of playing rugby league at the highest level, when they run out for round one of the NRL competition in March 2023.