Dolphins' Kaufusi switch confirmed, old foe a new ally

Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi is set to move up into the front row this year and partner a warhorse he once regarded as enemy No.1.

The 32-year-old has made the right edge as a second-rower his domain. It is where the Queensland stalwart smashed opponents on the way to NRL premierships for the Storm in 2017 and 2020.

Kaufusi has previously wrangled with NSW prop Daniel Saifiti, who has joined the Dolphins from Newcastle. Now they will be working together.

The retirement of inspirational Dolphin founding captain and prop Jesse Bromwich has left a vacancy up front.

Kaufusi will hand over his second-row position to new signing Kulikefu Finefeuiaki from North Queensland. Oryn Keeley is another option to play in the position after returning from a foot injury.

It is not as though Tongan international Kaufusi is not effective as a back-rower. It is about the make-up of his team.

Kaufusi has played as a middle for Tonga and on occasion last season for the Dolphins.

"I will be doing my best to come off the back fence," Kaufusi said.

"I actually started off in the front row in my NRL career. It is a different position from the back row, but I will be doing my best to see how I go."

Saifiti is in the mix to play as a starting prop for the Dolphins, and despite their rugged history as Origin opponents, Kaufusi is looking forward to the liaison.

"Clubland is clubland, but it is a different beast at the Origin arena. There is a certain ... dislike for the other side and I am sure we both carry that," he said.

"He is a big addition to our squad, let alone our forward pack. We will miss Jesse, but I think he will fill that void."

The Dolphins, now under new coach Kristian Woolf, are yet to play finals football after fading in the latter rounds in 2023 and 2024, after being inside the top eight at the halfway mark of the season.

"We will definitely be doing our best to make finals," Kaufusi said.

"We have been close a couple of times. We are still young as a club and we will definitely be pushing for it."