Just days after being knocked back by Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, NRL expansion club the Dolphins have missed out on another target with Pat Carrigan signing a new deal at Brisbane.
The 23-year-old had been linked with a move to join Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins but has instead committed to the Broncos until the end of the 2024 season.
Carrigan's decision comes days after Fa'asuamaleaui inked a four-year extension at Gold Coast.
Despite the lure of Bennett, the Dolphins' recruiting since they were awarded the NRL's 17th licence in October has been a slow burn.
As well as Fa'asuamaleaui and Carrigan, the club has missed out on several mooted key targets such as Melbourne Storm prop Christian Welch and North Queensland outside back Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Welch is expected to announce a long-term extension with the Storm in coming days while fellow Queensland State of Origin player Tabuai-Fidow committed to the Cowboys until the end of 2023 in October.
So far unheralded hooker Harrison Graham is the lone signing for the Dolphins since their NRL expansion bid victory.
Bennett still has time to land some big recruitment blows ahead of the club's inaugural season in 2023 with Storm duo Cameron Munster and Brandon Smith as well as Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga among the potential options.
