‘Happy I can do it at Redcliffe’: Lui celebrates 50

Dantoray Lui has worn a number of jerseys across his young rugby league career.

From iconic brands that have been around for decades such as the Parramatta Eels to those that were close to home like the Northern Pride, Lui says it feels like his footy journey has been a “pretty long one”.

But this Saturday, as he prepares to notch up 50 games in the Hostplus Cup, there is nowhere else that the crafty playmaker would rather achieve that milestone than with the Redcliffe Dolphins.

The five-eighth joined the club for season 2025, fresh from two years with the Pride, and has not looked back.

“It means a lot (to reach 50 games),” Lui said.

“My footy journey’s been a pretty long one… I’ve gone through a few injuries, a few clubs, but I’m happy I can reach 50 this week and happy I can do it at Redcliffe.

“They’ve been good to me from the start.

“It’s everything (that makes Redcliffe right).

“The group of boys have been outstanding. We’re a real tight knit group and everyone is close.

“There are no individual groups, everyone’s relationship is intact and I know when we go out there, everyone is playing for each other and everyone has my back.”

Lui, who grew up on Yam and Coconut Islands in the Torres Strait, made his Hostplus Cup debut with the Pride in 2022.

In Cairns, he was largely used as a utility, playing in the halves, at centre and off the bench across his two seasons.

But since arriving at Redcliffe, he has cemented himself the No.6 jersey and shone this season alongside halfback Joshua James.

After moving to Sydney as a teenager and enjoying stints in the pathways at three NRL clubs – Parramatta, Cronulla Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons – Lui suffered from home sickness, which he said was one of the biggest challenges of his career so far.

However, he hasn’t found the same difficulties moving away from Far North Queensland again, this time with his own little family in tow.

It’s helped contribute to a strong and settled year on the paddock.

“I was in Sydney for a few years and I was away from family for a long time,” he said.

“That was hard but I’ve got used to that feeling now. Here, I have my own family with my partner and my son and it makes it heaps easier to be down here now.

“I would say my family as a whole have been my biggest influences. I can’t pick any one person out.

“They’ve been through everything with me – they’ve supported me when times were rough and I had no one. I always turn back to my family.

“I’m always grateful for their support and their love.”

At just age 23, there is still a lot of football ahead for Lui and a lot of milestones to come.

His ultimate goal is to play in the NRL one day – week in, week out, a regular starter.

But this week, he only has tunnel vision for his short-term goals.

As Redcliffe prepare to play their final regular round game of the season against the Mackay Cutters on home turf on Saturday, Lui is determined to help the Dolphins progress to the finals and to potentially achieve his premiership dreams.

“Definitely for this year I would like to win the grand final,” he said.

“I’m confident for this weekend. Without being too cocky, I’m confident in our group.

“I think we’ll get a few boys back this week but from the performance on the weekend (a win over Townsville Blackhawks), it’s definitely something to look forward to.

“We’ve turned the switch on and if we can keep this on for the coming weeks, we will go a long way into the finals.”