2025 Squad

[Josh]

Development players:​

Aublix Tawha (2025), Elijah Rasmussen (2025, NRL 2027), Ryan Jackson (2025), Tevita Naufahu (2025), Lewis Symonds (2025)

 

[Equaliser]

Development players:​

Aublix Tawha (2025), Elijah Rasmussen (2025, NRL 2027), Ryan Jackson (2025), Tevita Naufahu (2025), Lewis Symonds (2025)

Jackson and Rasmussen will get a chance in the top grade at some stage this year. No idea about the others.

 

[257Matt]

Who takes the next step​

If the Dolphins are going to play finals for the first time they need to take their game to a new level. They developed a reputation for being tough battlers under Bennett but more than that is needed to be a premiership contender. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is one of the NRL’s most dangerous players, but needs to be more consistent. Isaiya Katoa is entering his third NRL season and should be dominating more games than not. The Dolphins would kill to have enforcers Tom Gilbert and Tom Flegler on the field too following a couple of bad years with injuries. There is a changing of the guard underway with a number of older players on their way out which means the young brigade has to stand up.

I thought last year they played more enterprise football and didn't get into the tough or grinding stuff a contrast from the first NRL season.

 

[Equaliser]

Anyone have any updates on the captain will be?

 

[257Matt]

Anyone have any updates on the captain will be?

Woolf is keeping that very under his chest

I assume it will be JMK or Gilbert

 

[Equaliser]

Woolf is keeping that very under his chest

I assume it will be JMK or Gilbert

I'm thinking Herbie.

 

[257Matt]

I'm thinking Herbie.

He be a good choice.

 

[mr_c]

i think it be jmk and gilbert

 

[mr_c]

Development players:​

Aublix Tawha (2025), Elijah Rasmussen (2025, NRL 2027), Ryan Jackson (2025), Tevita Naufahu (2025), Lewis Symonds (2025)

lewis will hes been standout in the juniors n junior orgin

 

[257Matt]

Kaufusi and Bromwich days on the egde are over.

Finefeuiaki eyes Kaufusi lessons and spot at Dolphins
By Joel Gould
January 9, 2025

New Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki wants to take the next step in his promising NRL career, and he has the dream mentor for any rampaging second-rower.

The 21-year-old former North Queensland firebrand will be nurtured by veteran Felise Kaufusi as he targets playing on the right edge where Kaufusi has made a career out of terrorising opponents.

Kaufusi played in the middle at prop for Wayne Bennett on occasions last year and filled that role for Tonga in the Pacific Cup.

Kenny Bromwich, a premiership-winning second-rower alongside Kaufusi at Melbourne, has also been used by the Dolphins in the middle.

The younger legs of Finefeuiaki, Connelly Lemuelu, 26, and 21-year-old Oryn Keeley have them slated to contend for back-row spots as Kaufusi and Bromwich transition into middles in their twilight years.

Kaufusi is still a dynamo on an edge, and Finefeuiaki knows that cementing a starting spot won't be handed to him on a platter by new coach Kristian Woolf.

"It will be very hard," he said.

"There’s a lot of back-rowers with Connelly Lemuelu and Oryn Keeley, so I’ve just got to train hard and learn off Kaufusi.

"Now he’s playing more in the middle, I’ve just got to learn off him and just get feedback off the halves.

"I saw Felise play at Melbourne when I was 12 or 13, so to train alongside him and hopefully play alongside him is really truly special."

Finefeuiaki was in the Tonga squad for the Pacific Cup where Woolf was also the coach, so he is well aware what areas he needs to fine-tune.

Full Article:

Finefeuiaki eyes Kaufusi lessons and spot at Dolphins

New Dolphins firebrand Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has the chance to inherit the great Felise Kaufusi's mantle as he prepares to learn off the veteran enforcer.

www.aapnews.com.au

 

[Josh]

Kaufusi and Bromwich days on the egde are over.

Finefeuiaki eyes Kaufusi lessons and spot at Dolphins
By Joel Gould
January 9, 2025

New Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki wants to take the next step in his promising NRL career, and he has the dream mentor for any rampaging second-rower.

The 21-year-old former North Queensland firebrand will be nurtured by veteran Felise Kaufusi as he targets playing on the right edge where Kaufusi has made a career out of terrorising opponents.

Kaufusi played in the middle at prop for Wayne Bennett on occasions last year and filled that role for Tonga in the Pacific Cup.

Kenny Bromwich, a premiership-winning second-rower alongside Kaufusi at Melbourne, has also been used by the Dolphins in the middle.

The younger legs of Finefeuiaki, Connelly Lemuelu, 26, and 21-year-old Oryn Keeley have them slated to contend for back-row spots as Kaufusi and Bromwich transition into middles in their twilight years.

Kaufusi is still a dynamo on an edge, and Finefeuiaki knows that cementing a starting spot won't be handed to him on a platter by new coach Kristian Woolf.

"It will be very hard," he said.

"There’s a lot of back-rowers with Connelly Lemuelu and Oryn Keeley, so I’ve just got to train hard and learn off Kaufusi.

"Now he’s playing more in the middle, I’ve just got to learn off him and just get feedback off the halves.

"I saw Felise play at Melbourne when I was 12 or 13, so to train alongside him and hopefully play alongside him is really truly special."

Finefeuiaki was in the Tonga squad for the Pacific Cup where Woolf was also the coach, so he is well aware what areas he needs to fine-tune.

Full Article:

Finefeuiaki eyes Kaufusi lessons and spot at Dolphins

New Dolphins firebrand Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has the chance to inherit the great Felise Kaufusi's mantle as he prepares to learn off the veteran enforcer.

www.aapnews.com.au

I think Kenny will spend most of the year playing prop for Redcliffe.

 

[257Matt]

I think Kenny will spend most of the year playing prop for Redcliffe.

I think his best 17 days are over and I think Woolf is prepared to make the tough calls.

No one will say it but we're seeing it with how lean and trim Souths look and the noises about the lift in intensity at the Dolphins - Bennett's heart was always at Souths. It's admirable that Dolphins and Bennett left on good terms and remained very friendly during their time together. IMO Bennett respects the Dolphins and knows the value of a strong club presence in Queensland but his heart and love was elsewhere.

 

[257Matt]

Video on the club website with the press conference yesterday with Finefeuiaki

 

[Josh]

Video on the club website with the press conference yesterday with Finefeuiaki

Anything interesting?

 

[Gary]

I think his best 17 days are over and I think Woolf is prepared to make the tough calls.

No one will say it but we're seeing it with how lean and trim Souths look and the noises about the lift in intensity at the Dolphins - Bennett's heart was always at Souths. It's admirable that Dolphins and Bennett left on good terms and remained very friendly during their time together. IMO Bennett respects the Dolphins and knows the value of a strong club presence in Queensland but his heart and love was elsewhere.

I think Kenny will spend most of the year playing prop for Redcliffe.

Kenny B , will be in the 17/18 for rd 1, he is needed for his experience, this may change once Flegler gets the green light

 

[Josh]

Kenny B , will be in the 17/18 for rd 1, he is needed for his experience, this may change once Flegler gets the green light

have Kaufusi, Saifiti, Nicholls who are veterans and JMK and Gilbert have been around for a while.

 

[Gary]

have Kaufusi, Saifiti, Nicholls who are veterans and JMK and Gilbert have been around for a while.

Gilbert hasn’t played for 18 months will take him 6-10 matches to get fitness , movement , and timing back Nicholls is not as good as Kenny b , he will be in the 17 end of

 

[Red]

Kenny B , will be in the 17/18 for rd 1, he is needed for his experience, this may change once Flegler gets the green light

have Kaufusi, Saifiti, Nicholls who are veterans and JMK and Gilbert have been around for a while.

If Kenny has a good off season, like drops a kg or 2 I think he'll be in the 17 for round 1 as well. Though not sure how seriously Wolff takes trials. Seems most coaches just use them to play a heap of young players but not really competition for round 1 spots.

 

[Gary]

If Kenny has a good off season, like drops a kg or 2 I think he'll be in the 17 for round 1 as well. Though not sure how seriously Wolff takes trials. Seems most coaches just use them to play a heap of young players but not really competition for round 1 spots.

Just think after watching st Helen’s in England Wolfe will go with a big aggressive pack , looking forward to this season

 

[Josh]

If Kenny has a good off season, like drops a kg or 2 I think he'll be in the 17 for round 1 as well. Though not sure how seriously Wolff takes trials. Seems most coaches just use them to play a heap of young players but not really competition for round 1 spots.

We will see soon enough.