International centre Oliver Gildart will add some speed and class to the Dolphins’ backline after signing a one-year deal to join the NRL’s newest club.
Gildart will provide a significant boost to the Dolphins’ backline stocks as he reforms a partnership with Dolphins’ head coach Wayne Bennett.
Bennett knows Gildart well after he toured with the Great Britain squad the Dolphins’ coach oversaw in 2019.
A classy outside back, Gildart has also represented England at Test level.
The 26-year-old has played in four Super League grand finals, winning two premierships with Wigan in a 129-game career for the English glamour club.
After signing with the Wests Tigers for the 2022 season, Gildart played the first eight NRL matches of the year before being loaned on a short-term deal to the Roosters.
He made two appearances for the Roosters in the run up to this year’s NRL finals and will now re-energise his NRL career by becoming a foundation player for the Dolphins.
Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said Gildart was a quality addition to the Dolphins’ squad.
“Oliver has played rugby league at Test level and is a player who is fast, elusive and has great footwork,” said Reader.
Wayne Bennett coached him on a Great Britain tour so knows him well, and we believe he may only have just scratched the surface of what he can do in the NRL.
“Importantly, his signature adds another strong option to our backline list.”
Named the English Super League Young Player of the Year in 2017, Gildart won a premiership in 2016 with Wigan in just his 10th career start. He won his second grand final two years later in 2018.
He made his first of three Test appearances for England in 2018 and played for Great Britain the following season.
OLIVER GILDART
Born: 6 August, 1996
Height: 183cms
Weight: 89kg
Super League Matches: 134 (62 tries)
NRL matches: 10 (1 try)
Representative record: 3 Test for England 2018; 1 Test for Great Britain 2019
