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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 3695723, member: 1899"] Working our way down in alphabetical order... [B]Dolphins 2025[/B] 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti/Tom Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Tom Gilbert 11. Felise Kaufusi/Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr/Ray Stone/etc. 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Kenny Bromwich/Felise Kaufusi etc. 17. Connelly Lemuelu/etc. Originally I had Gilbert at 13, but good luck keeping Plath out of the starting side. Plath typifies the resolve of the side. Not the fastest, strongest or most skillful player but he's a team player and he inspires those around him. What I like about the Dolphins pack is that they all bring something to the table. Kaufusi is your enforcer, Lemuelu runs great lines, Kerr has that second phase, Nicholls is ever reliable etc. I'm curious to see what Saifiti and Finefeuiaki bring to the side. I don't think Finefeuiaki came back to the south-east just to be closer to family, I think he's looking for an opportunity to start and the Dolphins are going to give it to him. If he can stay focused, he should give them a physical edge and somebody they can look to play off. As for Saifiti, I like the way Marshall-King uses his forwards and think Saifiti could be a real beneficiary either skittling the defence to open up the play for JMK or scoring one himself. I just hope Daniel backs up what he's been saying this pre-season and asserts himself more. I felt he became annonymous at Newcastle and got over-shadowed not only be his twin brother but also Leo Thompson. If he can step up and you bring Flegler in alongside him the pack would be really difficult to contain. To cut to the chase, for the Dolphins to become serious title contenders, they need Tabuai-Fidow to work on his fitness and for Katoa to take his game to the next level. The latter is a huge ask. Katoa is only 20 (going on 21 in a few weeks) and realistically he 's a couple of years off from being a dominant halfback. However they've thrown him into the deep end and so they need him to be more adventurous with the footy and create more points. The play that sticks out was the Round 20 clash against the Panthers where the Dolphins had the defending premiers on the ropes and Katoa had an opportunity to win the game. However instead of backing himself, Katoa went the safe option and went for a cross-field kick that ultimately kept Penrith in the game. The Dolphins need a halfback that will win them the game in that scenario. Meanwhile the Hammer is their most dangerous player, but he struggles to put in an 80 minute performance and will clock off, particularly in defence. If the rumours are true and the Dolphins are training the house down, I think the Hammer could have a very similar impact as a Billy Slater, Matt Bowen, Ben Barba and have far more try involvements. It's a big test for the franchise this year. It was one thing to get off the ground with Bennett, it's another to perform without the mastercoach. They should be in the mix for a Top 8 spot, but I don't think it'll be a smooth transition. I expect there to be some turbulence with Woolf injecting some fresh blood into the team and putting his own spin on the side which won't work for all the incumbents. I don't think it will be the end of the world if they fail to make the 8, but they have to put themselves in a position where they can improve in 2026. What do you make of them [USER=8770]@Wolfie[/USER]? Any word out in the Peninsula? [/QUOTE]

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