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Round 16 v Newcastle Knights

Red

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More woes for the forward pack with Kaufusi suspended for a couple of weeks. But it's only against Newcastle. Should be able to get away with it and then head into the bye. I have no idea who will come in for Kaufusi. It'll have to be a development player, won't it?
 

Gary

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More woes for the forward pack with Kaufusi suspended for a couple of weeks. But it's only against Newcastle. Should be able to get away with it and then head into the bye. I have no idea who will come in for Kaufusi. It'll have to be a development player, won't it?
Could move kerr up from the bench, not sure who takes his place on the bench, kb if fit maybe
 

Liverbird with Phins up

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Kerr and Nichols. Will be in contention to start.

No problem. Kerr has been pretty good off the bench, and I'm his harshest critic on here.

I'm not concerned at all, as every other forward in our pack is playing lights out. And with out wingers killing it with first hit ups in general play. We shall be fine.
 

Liverbird with Phins up

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Added to that. We have been playing with a bandaid front row anyway. Kaufusi isn't a front rower. Slotting one of the other big fellas in there won't be that different.
 

257Matt

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Aublix Tawha is the favourite to come into the 17 and he's full-time as are the other 3 development players Jackson, Rasmussen and Symonds. Tawha been playing really well in QCup and was 19th man on Saturday night. Woolf did say he'll invest from within in his media conference during the week.

Mark Nicholls will start and be the captain.
 
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Red

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I wonder how close Woolf is to keeping Averillo at fullback and playing Hammer at centre?
 

257Matt

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How did Donga go last week? Only watched the highlights....
He had one horror patch of 5 mins otherwise outstanding. Topped the tackle count with 34, pulled off the hit of the game and broke the Cowboys spirits with the try right on half time Cowboys were the slightly better team in the 10mins before half time. He came off with 20mins to go.
 

257Matt

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However, the stupid draw means Dolphins have played two more games than the Storm (who must now play 12 weeks straight leading into the semi) so Papi still slightly on average PPG. What is exciting - and a bit weird - looking at the ladder, though, is that at end of Round 15 only five teams have a positive win-loss record while Dolphins are 7-7. The other 11 teams have all lost more games than they've won, meaning 25% of the current top-8 are having losing seasons so far. I think the last team to play finals with a negative win-loss record was Titans in 2021 when they finished 10-14
Byes all work out in the end with every team getting 3 but can show a false illusion on the ladder.

Dolphins now need to cash in on the last 3 weeks it was easier to get up for the Bulldogs, Dragons and Cowboys games as they were in front of Dolphins on the ladder you can say two of those sides due to "bye" technicality. This week is the challenge Newcastle aren't ahead of Dolphins but Dolphins bogey side is shaping up as Newcastle who have won their last four against Dolphins and the last three found a way to bore them out of the contest. Dolphins are also 0-2 in Perth. This is danger game written all over it more so now expectations are very high.
 

Liverbird with Phins up

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How did Donga go last week? Only watched the highlights....
He is getting better. Keep reducing those mistakes, and the rest takes control of itself for him. He has the motor, heart and toughness. Just those silly errors. He punched the ball into the ground again last game. He knows it and is working on it. He'll get there.
 

257Matt

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I guess that's a good thing now but next year with Plath and Gilbert on back on deck....... Gilbert might be told to put on a few kgs and play prop.
Donga at lock unlocks Katoa it was a crucial subtle internal change Woolf made for the round 5 game against Titans that has helped unlock the attack, free up Katoa and allow Hammer to be the Rolls Royce that he is.

Woolf has really learned the hard way and to see rewards been very pleasing to see. There are still 10 games to go and Dolphins need to win 6 to make the final 8.
 

Equaliser

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Donga at lock unlocks Katoa it was a crucial subtle internal change Woolf made for the round 5 game against Titans that has helped unlock the attack, free up Katoa and allow Hammer to be the Rolls Royce that he is.

Woolf has really learned the hard way and to see rewards been very pleasing to see. There are still 10 games to go and Dolphins need to win 6 to make the final 8.
As well as he has been playing, I have to tell you now, he's not as good a lock as Plath or Gilbert. But he is a better interchange utility than both.
 
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