Woolf: ‘We’ve got to back ourselves’

Published 1:50pm 16 July 2025

Words by Kylie Knight

Dolphins NRL Head Coach Kristian Woolf refuses to dwell on the players he’s lost this season, choosing instead to show faith in a core group of players who have stepped up as leaders and newcomers determined to make their mark in the NRL.

Woolf spoke after this morning’s final training session ahead of the Dolphins’ round 20 clash with the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night (7.50pm kick off).

The Dolphins are coming off a 24-12 loss to the Sharks, and the Cowboys are also looking for a win after losing 26-6 against the Knights last round.

The Dolphins are 10th on the ladder and the Cowboys are 12th.

The home side now has 10 players ruled out with injury, including Mark Nicholls (concussion) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (broken thumb) who were injured in last week’s loss to the Sharks.

Aublix Tawha will retain his starting position in Nicholls' absence, while Connelly Lemuelu comes from the bench into the starting side to cover for Finefeuiaki.

Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returns to the side from State of Origin duty, allowing Jake Averillo to move back to the wing and last week's debutant Tevita Naufahu becoming 18th man.

Harrison Graham will be on the bench alongside Peter Hola, who will make his club debut.

Kenny Bromwich is listed as a reserve but has been battling a neck complaint.

Woolf says he has faith in the players he has selected, to do what’s needed to win.

“I’m extremely confident. I think they’ve shown over the last few weeks just how much they will turn up for each other and what sort of effort they’re willing to put in for each other,” he says.

“The performance and the result means a lot to them. You can see that in how they perform.

“I’m not interested in who’s not on the field. I’m really interested and keen to watch the guys who are playing. It’s a great opportunity for some of them to have a bit more responsibility with the team and I know they’re all keen to do that,” Woolf says.

He concedes tomorrow night will, however, be another test for his troops with the Cowboys also desperate for a win.

“It’s getting to that time of the year when every win is really important. It makes for a good game of footy. I’m really confident with what our guys are going to come up with,” he says.

Cause for optimism

With Tabuai-Fidow rested and raring to go, Herbie Farnworth in career-best form and players like Ray Stone doing the hard yards every game, Woolf has reason for optimism.

He also has a rising star wearing the No.7 jersey, who is driven to improve. Katoa was critical of his own performance after his side’s loss to the Sharks last round, saying he needed to be a more dominant force on the field.

“He’s his own hardest marker. He sets himself very high standards and that’s why he plays to such a high standard every week. I think he’s been a bit hard on himself there to be honest,” Woolf says.

The coach says poor discipline and lapses in defence resulted in the team spending too much time trying to get off their own try line.

“We didn’t give ourselves the opportunity to attack often. I love that he (Katoa) is a hard marker. He wants to be the best player he can possibly be … what I do know about Isaiya is that he’s going to come out and certainly want to change that this week,” he says.

While tomorrow night’s game is not a must-win for the Dolphins, “every game is important at this stage of the season”.

“We’ve got to back ourselves. We’ve got a good confidence through the group at the moment and we’ve got to back ourselves against everyone. Whether this game’s more important than the next two points … I’m not too sure about that. They’re all becoming pretty important,” Woolf says.

So, what are the Dolphins expecting from the Cowboys and how will they contain Tom Dearden?

“He’s a good player. He showed what he’s capable of in Origin. You throw in there Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai as well … obviously Drinkwater’s a real key player for them as well and their Hooker. They’ve got some real class about them,” Woolf says.

“They’re going to be dangerous, they’re going to be desperate, they’re going to come up with their best performance. Those guys are all going to come to the fore and they’re going to take you on.

“It’s what makes for a good game of footy and both teams are going to be just as desperate as each other.”