Saifiti: ‘I’m not looking to be the next Jesse Bromwich’

New Dolphins NRL front rower Daniel Saifiti has vowed to work hard to impress his teammates and coaches this preseason, by being the best version of himself.

The 28-year-old now calls Redcliffe home after 10 years at the Newcastle Knights where he made his NRL debut in 2016.

“I think it was time. The (Dolphins) boys have been really welcoming. We’re at Newport and my partner really loves it. It’s going really good at the moment, obviously preseason’s tough,” Saifiti says.

“The roster’s top notch. There’s representative players all over the park, but probably the main thing was coming under Woolfie again. I only had him for one year in 2019, me and him built a really close relationship and we’ve kept in touch ever since.

“When he rang my manager … I pretty much knew after that first phone call this is the club for me. I’m just glad he made the call and I’m here now.”

Saifiti has left brother Jacob at the Knights and banter has started between the pair who will face-off for the first time, when the Dolphins take on the Knights in round two at Newcastle.

“At the moment, it’s fun and games but it will be all business in round two,” he says.

Saifiti says he will be more worried about his mum, trying to watch the game, than his brother.

“We’re both experienced enough and played enough games to realise it’s personal on the field for 80 minutes, but he’s my best mate so we’ll shake hands and give each other a hug after,” he says.

Putting the work in

For now, the focus is on building strength and fitness during preseason training.

“Me personally, just getting myself right (is the goal), being the best version of myself. If I’m the best version of myself, I can help a lot of the younger boys out and add something to the squad,” Saifiti says.

“I know Jesse has left … I’m not looking to be the next Jesse Bromwich. He’s a legend of the game, he’s hard to compete with. I’m just going to be myself and lead the way I lead.

“We’re two different players. I’ll lean on guys like Tommy Gilbert, Tommy Flegler, Felise, Kenny … make it like a joint full forward pack. It’s not going to be one person. It’s an aggressive forward pack, we’re going to go after (other) packs together.”

So, is playing for the Blues again in Origin a goal?

“It’s not just going to happen. I’ve just come to a new club … I’m going to have to prove myself to the boys that I do deserve to be in the (Dolphins) team,” Saifiti says.

“I find with rep teams, if you’re playing in a good team that’s going well, and they’re playing good footy, you naturally get picked. I’ve got to impress the boys and the coaches first.”