Kristian Woolf: ‘Our challenge is to be on for every play’

The Dolphins will face their biggest challenge of the NRL season so far when they take on Melbourne Storm tomorrow night, but Head Coach Kristian Woolf says it’s come at the perfect time and they’re ready for it.

The Storm are in scintillating form - placed second on the NRL ladder, behind the Bulldogs, after four wins and one loss (Dragons round four).

The Dolphins are 14^th on the ladder after a slow start to the season, losing four games before winning the past two.

“This is our biggest challenge so far this year. It’s come at a great time for us, I think it’s a challenge that we’re ready for, but it’s going to be a big challenge and we’re looking forward to it,” Woolf says.

“What I think they’ve shown is early in games, they start fast and they challenge you to go with them and they’ve got so much class to back that up. That’s a challenge for us.

“We’ve got to be really good in that first 15-20 minutes and make sure we’re in the fight from there on in.

“I don’t think there’s a simple method of beating them. They’re the best team in the competition for a reason … they’ve got the best 9, 6, 7, 1 in the comp … they’re challenging you all the time.

“As soon as you’re expecting something not to happen, they’ve got the 9, 6, 7, 1 that can exploit that. Our challenge is to be on for every play.”

The Dolphins will be without Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King who has not yet recovered from a serious cut to his leg.

Kurt Donoghoe and Max Plath will fill the gap and Ray Stone will be added to the 17-man squad.

“We thought he (Marshall-King) would be OK by this weekend but unfortunately he’s got a little bit of an infection in there, as well, which has probably to be expected when you see the size of the cut,” Woolf explains.

“We’re very confident that he’ll be fine for next week.”

Woolf says he’s happy with how Donoghoe is developing as a player and has performed so far this season.

“He’ll play the majority (of the game at) hooker. We like Plathy in that (No.) 13 role where there’s a little bit of ball play but at some stage they’re going to have to share (duties).”

And Woolf is pleased to bring in Dolphins hardman Ray Stone for such a crucial game.

“He’s a great bloke to bring in for any game. We all love Stoney and what he brings. He just gives you absolutely everything of what he’s got… the way he carries the ball, the way he turns up defensively, the way he doesn’t stop. He’s great to have in the team. I think he’s quite inspiring for the other players,” he says.

Battle of the fullbacks

Woolf is looking forward to the battle of the fullbacks, with Hammer V Papenhuyzen going head-to-head.

“It is going to be a great match-up. They’re two exciting players. They’re both obviously important players for their teams. Hopefully Hammer gets the better there and when Hammer’s playing well, we certainly play well,” he says.

“He (Papenhuyzen) is a very good player and we’ve got to really good at the things we were good at last week (to win).

“I thought we held our nerve really well in our line a number of times last week. I thought we were great in our kicking game. I thought we were great in our kick-chase. Those sorts of things are really important this week.

“Papenhuyzen is a real key player for them, but they’ve got so many key players and so many good players.”

Dolphins junior and NRL team prop Josh Kerr will celebrate 100 games in the NRL tomorrow night.

“It’s great to see him play 100 games. He’s a talented bloke and he’s certainly had his obstacles and hurdles he’s had to overcome. I know he’s excited, his family came in this morning and they’re excited as well,” Woolf says.

But the coach has not instructed him to make more off-loads, even after a sensational ball to Connelly Lemuelu which resulted in a try against the Panthers last round.

Kerr, 29, is keen to play on at the club in 2026 but has not yet locked in a new contract.

“He’s playing great footy at the moment and when you’re playing great footy, you’re a bloke we want to keep in the team,” Woolf says when asked if the club can keep him on the roster beyond this season.

“We’ve got a few things we need to sort out over the next month or two that involves some of the players that we’ve got here, that involves players that may come in and help us in different positions and things like that as well. We’ve got a good recruitment team who are on that at the moment.”

Tom Flegler update

Woolf says there are positive signs, but it is unlikely Tom Flegler will play this year.

“There are steps along the way and the first round of testing he’s got done showed the graft that he’s had done with the nerve has been positive and there is actually some change in the muscle. That’s all we could hope for at this stage,” he explains.

“It’s still a long process. We don’t believe he’ll play this year, but we’re very hopeful that keeps progressing and progressing at a good rate so he can be available for 2026.”

Woolf says the club has been patient with his progress, but added he deserves that patience.

“He’s a great player but he’s also a great person. We enjoy him around the club, we enjoy his influence. He’s handled a really tough position really well. Most injuries, you’ve got an end-date. He’s never had that. He’s had a grey ending since the injury started … we thought it was going to be a week (off) and he’s still going,” he says.

“That’s really difficult to deal with and he’s handled that extremely well. I can’t praise him enough for how he’s carried himself around the group and how he’s tried to help out younger players and help them be better players as well.

“We’re certainly going to be patient. He’s a valued member with us, we want to see him play and we want to see him playing with the Dolphins in the future.”

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