Coach’s Corner: Dave Elliott

As season 2026 continues to get underway, the coaches of the Redcliffe Dolphins’ Hostplus Cup, BRL and junior representative teams will share insight into their squads and expectations for the year ahead.

In this edition of Coach’s Corner, Hostplus Cup coach Dave Elliott talks about his recruitment process for 2026 and how the Dolphins want to represent the Redcliffe region this season.

Coaching history

Elliott moved into coaching after he finished playing rugby league in 2007. He first coached an under 19s team before becoming the North Queensland Cowboys under 20s assistant coach in 2009. He did this for three seasons and then joined Townsville Brothers as their A grade head coach in 2012.

In 2015, Elliott took on the role of assistant coach for the Townsville Blackhawks Cup side and then in 2019 became the Blackhawks’ Hastings Deering Colts coach.

In 2022, he graduated to head coach of the Mackay Cutters’ Hostplus Cup side before moving south in 2023 to coach the Norths Devils. In 2025, he joined Redcliffe as Hostplus Cup assistant coach.

How are you feeling ahead of the 2026 season?

Dave: Pretty excited – excited to see the boys play, excited to see them build combinations and excited to watch their footy evolve across the course of the first four games of the season. That’s our priority at the minute.

How is the squad shaping up?

D: We just knew who we wanted to keep and then we just had to get some guys in that we knew would be a good fit for our club and complement the players we had in our existing squad. We knew, as a club, that we wanted to represent the Dolphins in a way that recognised the previous Redcliffe teams – Redcliffe has always played a certain way so we wanted to have guys that could do that.

What are your goals for the team this year?

D: Everyone’s goal is to win the comp but the other part of it is to be a team that represents our region well. The boys have spoken about this and when you come to watch Redcliffe play, you’re going to see that.

What is your coaching philosophy?

D: Give the players an opportunity to play at their best. But that covers a lot of different things. To do that you have to give them a training environment that can foster that, you have to build a connection within your playing group, you have to let them play to their strengths and be the player they are without fear. Otherwise you don’t see their best.

What do you personally hope to get out of the year ahead?

D: It’s all about seeing those players achieve the things they want to achieve as a group. Whether it’s personal achievements or what they want to achieve as a team, there’s nothing better than that.

The Redcliffe Dolphins kick off their 2026 Hostplus Cup season at home on Sunday March 8 against the Burleigh Bears.