The Dolphins have done in four seasons what the Broncos couldn't do in four decades—become Queensland's State of Origin factory.

Five Dolphins—Max Plath, Selwyn Cobbo, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Thomas Flegler and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki—have been called up for the Maroons. Jack Bostock is on the Blues bench, and halfback Isaiya Katoa was in camp as cover for Mitchell Moses. That's seven Origin reps from a club that didn't exist before 2023.

Compare that to the Broncos and Storm, the two clubs that built Queensland's Origin dominance this century. They've got just six reps combined. And both are languishing outside the top eight—Broncos 14th, Storm 11th. Last year's grand finalists are fighting to keep their seasons alive while the Dolphins are on a six-game winning streak.

"They've all got a story, they've all had periods where they've probably doubted themselves or have had to deal with pretty lengthy injuries," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.

Woolf, who was Wayne Bennett's assistant in the Dolphins' first season, said the club targeted these players as Origin prospects before they arrived. Plath, Bostock and Flegler all came back from severe injuries—ACLs and shoulder nerve damage. Cobbo was a Broncos discard before producing the best of his seven Origin appearances in game one this year.

Club co-captain Tom Gilbert could count himself unlucky not to get a call-up when Broncos lock Pat Carrigan went down with a syndesmosis injury. Gilbert is returning to form after three injury-plagued seasons.

"The great thing about all those guys—probably Tom Flegler being the exception—is they've all developed into Origin players within our system," Woolf said.

"We want guys to be playing Origin, we want guys to be ambitious."

That ambition is showing on the field. While the Broncos were getting flogged 48-6 by South Sydney on Thursday—missing only Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs to Origin—the Dolphins tore the Roosters apart 48-10. And they did it without their Origin stars. Trai Fuller, Tevita Naufahu, Ray Stone, Oryn Keeley and Felise Kaufusi all played key roles.

The vibe at Redcliffe is different. Training is full of laughter and chat, but when it's time to work, the mood shifts fast. Players speak openly with media, and the team holds a Captains Run barbecue breakfast. That looseness translates to the field—the Dolphins played patient, kicking to corners and defending hard, then exploded for 36 points in the second half.

Morgan Knowles, who won three Super League titles under Woolf at St Helens, said the coach's philosophy hasn't changed.

"He's got the same sort of philosophies and ideas of how he wants his teams to play… having a tough team and earning the right first, all the effort areas being there, is sort of the foundation and platform," Knowles said.

"Then we've got that much strike as well, so you sprinkle that on top once you build a bit of fatigue in the game."

In a rare twist, the Blues actually have more Broncos in their squad for game two (Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs) than Queensland (just Walsh). The Broncos' horror injury run—at one point missing 15 players—doesn't fully explain their slide. They won hard-fought games against the Tigers and Bulldogs before dropping six straight, conceding 218 points in that stretch.

The Storm, meanwhile, have dealt with off-field health issues involving Eli Katoa, Tui Kamikamica and coach Craig Bellamy. But hooker Harry Grant shut down suggestions those were to blame.

The Dolphins, on the other hand, are riding high. And they're doing it with players who had to overcome more than just a bad run of form.