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The Redcliffe-based Dolphins have landed 14-year-old Wylei Parker on a three-year development deal, marking a significant win in the battle for emerging talent against their Brisbane rivals.
Wylei is the son of Brisbane Broncos champion Corey Parker, who played 347 games for the Red Hill club and helped them win the 2006 premiership. The teenager’s signature with the Moreton Bay team represents a notable shift in the local rugby league landscape, with the Dolphins securing a Parker despite his father’s legendary status at Lang Park.
Building Pathways From the Redcliffe Peninsula
The Dolphins beat the Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs to secure Wylei’s signature. The Broncos reportedly did not express interest in the son of their club legend, despite Corey Parker ranking as the second-highest appearance maker in Brisbane’s history behind only Darren Lockyer.
Wylei has transformed from a halfback into a hooker and models his game on Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons star Harry Grant. At 14 years old turning 15, he enters the age bracket where clubs can formally contract promising juniors as part of their academy systems.
The development deal involves two training sessions per month, tours and structured pathways designed to nurture young talent while ensuring players can still enjoy their adolescent years. Wylei will be instilled as part of the Dolphins academy system, which operates from Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe alongside the club’s NRL operations.
Redcliffe’s Growing Win for Moreton Bay’s NRL Presence
The signing reinforces the Dolphins’ strategy of building their junior development programs across the Redcliffe Peninsula, northern Brisbane suburbs and the broader Moreton Bay region. Since entering the NRL in 2023, the club has worked to establish pathways that compete directly with the Broncos for local talent.
Corey Parker announced the news on social media, expressing pride in his son’s achievement. The former Broncos captain described the signing as opening the door to an amazing opportunity backed by hard work, commitment and belief.
He also spoke about the signing on SEN radio recently, noting his excitement for his son’s journey while acknowledging the variables that come with teenage development in rugby league.
The former lock forward emphasised that the opportunity allows Wylei to be part of structured development while still maintaining balance as a young person.
The signing follows another high-profile father-son story in recent months, with Andrew Johns’ 16-year-old son Louis signing a development contract with the Sydney Roosters rather than his father’s former club, the Newcastle Knights.
Redcliffe’s Growing Academy System
The Dolphins organisation has invested heavily in development structures since being granted their NRL licence in October 2021. The club’s commitment to pathways was a central pillar of their successful bid over the Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets for the competition’s 17th licence.
Kayo Stadium serves as both the training and administration base for the NRL team while hosting select home games alongside the club’s primary venue at Suncorp Stadium. The 10,000-capacity stadium underwent significant upgrades between 2015 and 2020 to support the Dolphins’ NRL ambitions and now houses comprehensive academy facilities.
The Redcliffe Dolphins, who continue to compete separately in the Queensland Cup, have produced numerous representative players throughout their 75-year history, including rugby league legends Trevor Harken and Arthur Beetson.
Wylei Parker’s signing represents another step in the Dolphins’ efforts to establish themselves as a legitimate pathway option for emerging talent in South East Queensland, competing directly with the Broncos despite the weight of family legacy pulling in the opposite direction.
Published 08-February-2026. Updated 14-February-2026.
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