In 2003 Michael Searle and Paul Broughton began pushing for the reinstatement of a Gold Coast Team in the National Rugby League in 2006.
The major hurdles for the Gold Coast team, which was by far the favourite to get the nod if the 16th licence was granted, was the use of the Dolphins name, and that their home ground, Carrara Stadium, was an oval and only seated 16,000.
They dropped the Dolphins nickname, and the Queensland Government announced that they would spend $100 million on a new, rectangular stadium for the Gold Coast Team, should they be accepted.
On the same night, an NRL match between the Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys was played on the Gold Coast Stadium.
Past Queensland State of Origin winger Chris Walker who was released by Melbourne Storm in 2006 started his comeback scoring two tries and three conversations for a 14-point haul.