Englishman Herbie Farnworth could join new NRL club Dolphins

NRL expansion club the Dolphins have expressed an interest in Brisbane’s English centre Herbie Farnworth.

Farnworth, 22, was spotted by Broncos scouts during his youth and has spent the past three seasons in Australia.

The former Wigan St Pats and Newton Storm youngster has gone on to make 41 appearances in the NRL.

The Lancashire-born utility is out of contract at the end of the season, and reports Down Under say he has paused contract talks with the Broncos.

Wayne Bennett’s Redcliffe-based Dolphins are due to enter the NRL in 2023 and are busy building their inaugural squad.

CONTEXT: NRL expands to 17 teams for 2023

Broncos football director Ben Ikin told The Australian: “Herbie has been in the system for a while like a lot of the guys in our top 30.

“The club saw the potential in him early and like anyone that comes out the other end of the academy, he’s done a lot of growing and developing and is starting to realise that potential.

“Those are the types of players you want to keep at the club.

“At this stage the conversation remains ongoing and when Herbie is ready to take it to the next level the club will definitely engage with him.”

Farnworth has previously attracted attention from Melbourne Storm.

But back in April, he was axed from Shaun Wane’s England elite training squad ahead of the World Cup, since pushed back a year.

Wane said: “Herbie’s standards have dipped below what I expect. It’s as simple as that.”

Dolphins are the first new club to join the NRL since Gold Coast Titans in 2007.

The Titans had an Englishman in their inaugural squad – Richie Mathers.

Mathers made his debut in round eight that season and went on to make six appearances in the NRL.

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