New Dolphin Finefeuiaki reveals 2025 goals
Dolphins NRL newcomer Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has clear goals for the 2025 season after a one-on-one chat with Head Coach Kristian Woolf.
The former Cowboy had a breakout season in 2024, playing 25 NRL games and signing a three-year contract with the Dolphins from 2025.
The 21-year-old played Mal Meninga Cup for the Ipswich Jets before moving to Townsville to play for the Blackhawks in the Hostplus Cup. He made his NRL debut for the Cowboys in 2023 and played for Tonga in the 2024 Pacific Championships.
Finefeuiaki’s move to Redcliffe was sparked by a desire to develop his own game and form connections on and off the field. He now calls the Peninsula home.
“The main factor was to try and elevate my game, try to get more minutes under my belt and learn more as time goes on. (Also) family, I’m from Ipswich … it’s closer to home, so it’s pretty good,” he explains.
Finefeuiaki has followed other former Cowboys Tom Gilbert, Connelly Lemuelu and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Redcliffe.
“They’re saying it’s a good environment, it’s a good culture here and I just want to be a part of it,” he says.
Finefeuiaki has a clear idea of what he wants to achieve in 2025 and has had a taste of working under his new coach while playing for Tonga.
“Probably to hopefully cement a starting position, get these connections going and hopefully we can lead this club into the right way (direction),” he says.
“He (Kristian) is wanting me to bring my aggression, bring my communication and just bring energy to the team especially on the right edge. I’ve just got to do that, do my job for the boys and hopefully the boys can follow through.”
Golden opportunity
Finefeuiaki is excited to be playing with veteran enforcer Felise Kaufusi and to be reunited with Tom Gilbert.
“I saw Felise play at the Melbourne Storm when I was 12 or 13. To train alongside him and to play alongside him is truly special,” he recalls.
“He (Tom Gilbert) is still the same Tom Gilbert. He’s a workhorse, he works his butt off. You just want to be like him. To have a guy like that in your team is outstanding.”
The extended squad’s preseason training has ramped up this week, with their first trial game against the Capras in Gladstone in just over four weeks (February 8, 6pm).
They will play the Cowboys in Cairns on February 14 (7pm) as part of the NRL’s Pre-season Challenge.
Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium is expected to be packed when it hosts a double-header in the final round of the Challenge on February 22. The Broncos play the Bulldogs at 4.30pm and the Dolphins take on the Titans at 6.30pm.