Boost for Dolphins’ finals march

Dolphins NRL players Felise Kaufusi and Mark Nicholls will be fit to play the Warriors in New Zealand this round, with Kodi Nikorima a chance of returning to the side as the club mounts its campaign for a maiden finals berth.

Second rower Connelly Lemuelu says the team has plenty of belief after a run of wins against the odds and despite an injury toll that would cripple other clubs.

“It (winning despite so many injuries) definitely adds a lot of belief but it’s not something that was unexpected,” Lemuelu explains.

“Within our own group, everyone’s had a good preseason despite those first four rounds … we had a bit of a rough start. No one turned on each other and it’s starting to show in our footy right now.

“Everyone’s got each other’s backs. Whoever takes that field and is in that 17 each week has been going out there and doing a job. We’ll have to do that for the rest of the year as well.”

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is close to being fit, but not likely to play in Friday night’s clash (6pm kick off).

Lemuelu says the return of Kaufusi will bring aggression up front, with his and Nicholls’ experience to bolster what has been a “pretty young and inexperienced forward pack” following the loss of the pair along with Daniel Saifiti and Tom Gilbert.

Their return is timely as the eighth-placed Dolphins look to keep their finals hopes alive with just six rounds to play.

“It (playing finals) would mean a lot. We haven’t achieved that feat yet as a club. To play finals this year would mean a lot, for myself as well. It’s my fifth year in the NRL and I haven’t had a finals game under my belt yet. It’s quite exciting if that opportunity comes this year,” he says.

“We were a couple of minutes away from finals footy last year and it’s something, for me personally is still in the back of my mind. We were that close.

“If we just play our footy, do what we’re good at … we’re good at scoring points and, when we’re on defensively, we can keep sides to low scores as well. As long as we get our game right, everything will take care of itself.”

The fourth-placed Warriors are coming off a 24-16 loss to the Titans in round 21, while the Dolphins return to the action after a week off.

“They’ve been playing some really good footy this year. It’s a good time for us to play them and see where we’re at as a team, playing a top-four side. We’ve just come off a bye and the boys are a bit freshened up this week,” Lemuelu says.

He’s looking forward to the clash in a place that’s close to his heart.

“I grew up I south Auckland, so it’s always going back to play the Warriors there. I have a lot of family and friends messaging me asking for tickets already. I’m just excited to go back and play in front of those people,” Lemuelu says.