“Enjoy it and back yourselves”, says coach
photo credit Angelico Jarvis Photography
Coach Kristian Woolf has a simple message for his Dolphins team on the eve of their historic preliminary final - “enjoy it”.
Woolf put the finishing touches to preparations today ahead of tomorrow’s do-or-die clash with Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, kick off 7.50pm.
While excitement is reaching fever pitch among supporters (super fan Cogzy says he’s already having trouble sleeping!) - the coach appears calm.
Dolphins are backing the same 17 which stunned Warriors two weeks ago, to make their first grand final - in just the club’s fourth season!
Despite the huge reward for tomorrow night’s winner, Woolf says he told the players to simply “enjoy the week, enjoy the build up”.
“To have as many fans as we did on Monday was outstanding,” he said, “it shows how much people care …. and that wasn’t lost on the players.
“We intend to go out and be ourselves. We play a style of footy, we play with toughness, we put ourselves in a great position that’s why we are still playing in the competition.
“We have to believe in ourselves, back ourselves and our style of footy. That’s what’s got us here and that’s what we look like at our best.”
Halfback and captain Isayia Katoa is set to be a pivotal player again for Phins tomorrow, just as he helped turn the tide against Warriors two weeks ago.
“I wouldn’t swap Isayia for anyone,” Woolf said, “I love what he brings as a person, how he carries himself, plays with that same calmness and confidence.
“He is obviously a key player for us. I look forward to what he can do tomorrow night.”
But Woolf also praised the entire squad which has worked since the start of last November.
“We set new standards around our fitness which has served us well and shows in the way we play,” he said. “They’ve done a hell of a lot of hard work over a long time.
“We’ve had a tough run to be in this position. Guys we didn’t have playing for us at the start of the year, some results that have gone against us.
“But what the group has done really well is handle that adversity and those occasions, come out the other end and given themselves this chance. So enjoy it and make the most of it.”
Tom Flegler failed an HIA (head injury assessment) against Warriors but is clear to play. For Roosters, Sam Walker returns from an ankle injury and Hugo Savala moves to the bench
Dolphins: 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Jack Bostock, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Selwyn Cobbo, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Isaiya Katoa (captain), 8 Tom Flegler, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Tom Gilbert, 11 Max Plath, 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13 Morgan Knowles. Interchange: 14 Kurt Donoghoe, 15 Ray Stone, 16 Francis Molo, 17 Connelly Lemuelu, 18 Felise Kaufusi, 19 Brad Schneider.
Roosters: 1 James Tedesco (captain), 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Billy Smith, 4 Robert Toia, 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6 Sam Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 Naufahu Whyte, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Lindsay Collins, 11 Salesi Foketi, 12 Siua Wong, 13 Victor Radley. Interchange: 14 Connor Watson, 15 Angus Crichton, 16 Nat Butcher, 17 Spencer Leniu, 18 Hugo Savala, 19 Cody Ramsay.