Kaufusi: ‘All eggs in one basket’ this week

Felise Kaufusi says the Dolphins NRL team will be putting “all eggs in one basket”, when they play Manly at Brookvale, with a maiden finals berth on the line.

The Dolphins’ enforcer returns from suspension for the must-win, round 25 clash, along with Frank Molo.

The pair will add some much-needed strike power upfront for Saturday’s game (kick off 3pm).

“I think it’s important for our team and our style of play, having some bigger bodies, more power … explosiveness in the middle … I think will be a good addition to the team,” Kaufusi says.

He says he and Molo are both naturally aggressive players but need to make sure they are not drawing the attention of match officials.

“It’s just finding the right line and to not go over it,” Kaufusi says.

The 33-year-old concedes watching his injury-ravaged team lose their past two games, from the sidelines, has been difficult but he accepts his punishment.

“That tackle was pretty sloppy and that’s exactly why they’re trying to get rid of it because boys do get injured from it. I’m obviously not happy spending time on sideline but I do cop that,” Kaufusi says.

“It’s been tough. It always is when you’re suspended, you don’t have an excuse as in an injury to blame. It’s obviously tough watching the boys and knowing you can’t be out there to help them.

“It’s been a tough two weeks obviously, after the Roosters’ (loss) and into Broncos at Suncorp as well. I thought we had opportunities to win that game and just came up short.

“We’re excited for this week and the next couple of weeks to come.”

Momentous clash

Heading into this weekend’s game, the Dolphins are ninth on the ladder and Manly are 10^th.

The game is a must-win for both teams to keep their finals hopes alive. It will also be Manly Captain Daly Cherry-Evans’ 350^th for the club which will celebrate his achievement before the game.

Kaufusi is expecting Cherry-Evans and his team to come out firing after a 26-12 loss to Wests Tigers last round.

“It’s a big one for both sides. I don’t think we’ve won in Brookvale in our history. It’s one for us to get up for and also we’re playing for a finals spot as well. It’s all on the line,” he says.

“He (Cherry-Evans) will definitely be at his best. I know DCE. He’s a champion player, a champion bloke … I love playing alongside him on the representative stage (for Queensland).

“I know what he is to the team, to the boys around him. I’m expecting nothing less than his best come this weekend.

“I’m not wishing him all the best this week, because I want to win.”

Dolphins Head Coach Kristian Woolf’s message to his team has been pretty clear.

“All eggs in one basket. We’re focusing on this game and this game only. I know we’ve got three good games coming up, but we’ve got to win this week if we want to do anything,” Kaufusi says.

For the Dolphins, it’s do or die if they want to achieve their finals footy goal. And it almost feels like finals.

“If anything, it will be getting us ready for finals. We’ve got three good matches coming up, starting off this week in Brookie. They (Manly) will be up for it, the boys will be up for it. You can’t look too far ahead,” Kaufusi says.

Fuller to play?

Trai Fuller is tipped to play in the fullback position after an outstanding return to the NRL in the position last round against the Broncos, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow expected to remain in the centres.

Kaufusi doesn’t envy Woolf in having to make the choice.

“That’s not my choice, luckily because far out, he (Fuller) is so good to watch. I think he’s inspirational as a player,” he says.

“Some of his carries for the size of him too. I thought playing against him, if I did, I’d like to pick him up and smash him. He’s just some knack of finding his way through against someone like Haas or the bigger boys.

“Man, that is courageous. I don’t know, we need to find him a spot in the team somewhere.”

So, will there be a spot in the Dolphins’ team for the off-contract Kaufusi next season?

“We’re in talks still. So, hopefully we’ll get it sorted soon enough,” he says.

“I’d say (I’ll play for) another year, two maybe, depending on how the body goes. With these suspensions, it’s given me a bit of longevity … maybe three, four. I’ll take it a year at a time, and we’ll see how we go.”