Latest news with #Kaufusi
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Firecracker' Gilbert endorsed for Maroons return
Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert is the "firecracker" to nullify the impact of NSW enforcer Liam Martin, which is why one Queensland hard man is promoting his State of Origin recall. The 24-year-old Gilbert last played for the Maroons in game one of 2023 when he dislocated his shoulder. He sat out the season and a ruptured ACL then wiped him out of 2024. Gilbert has led his Dolphins with conviction in 2025 and 17-game Maroons veteran Felise Kaufusi is convinced that, with the Origin series opener on May 28, his Maroons return is not far way. "Absolutely," Kaufusi said. "He is one of those players that you would pick and have no doubt he will go out and give it his all. I am not one of the selectors but he would definitely be on my radar. "After two back-to-back season-ending injuries it is always going to be tough for someone to come back from that. "The way he is and the way he attacks the game, that's what you see with Tommy. Whenever he is in our side - whether that is back-row or middle - he goes after it and that is something I love playing alongside, someone that goes after the game." Kaufusi is of a similar ilk. They don't call him "hard man" and "enforcer" for no reason. Gilbert is the kind of player admired by Maroons past and present. He's steely-eyed, with a hint of wild fury on the field in pursuit of the cause. When he talks, he looks straight at you. When he runs, he charges right through you. The Maroons have won both games he played. Kaufusi said Gilbert would also be an antidote to Penrith and NSW firebrand Liam Martin in Origin. "They are both firecrackers in the sense that they both love playing for their state, so I expect nothing less," Kaufusi said. Queensland coach Billy Slater has a high opinion of Gilbert. He gave him his debut off the bench in 2022 and then in 2023 named him to start in the back row in Adelaide before injury struck with a dislocated shoulder. Dolphins utility Max Plath was in the picture for a Maroons debut this month until he had foot surgery. Slater's recent praise also included a nod to his opinion of Gilbert. "Max is a bit like his captain at the Dolphins," Slater told AAP. "I think he has got a great role model in Tom Gilbert. They are cut from the same cloth as real team-first players that set the standards." Gilbert provides Slater the option of playing him in the middle or on an edge. The Maroons also lost last year's series, opening up more competition for spots. The Maroons do have several issues bubbling away with regard to the forwards. Their 2023 Wally Lewis Medal winner and North Queensland co-captain Reuben Cotter is suspended for two matches and won't play again before the Origin series opener.
Sydney Morning Herald
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
How Magic Round cured and created these huge State of Origin headaches
Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi has declared his skipper Tom Gilbert should 'absolutely' be brought back into the Queensland Maroons' fold, potentially setting up an enthralling clash with Blues counterpart Liam Martin. It has taken time for the two-time State of Origin star to work back towards his best football, having missed the best part of 18 months while he recovered from a dislocated shoulder suffered in his last Maroons appearance in 2023, before rupturing his ACL upon his comeback. The 24-year-old has endured a rollercoaster introduction to the captaincy, overseeing four-straight defeats to launch their campaign, before a three-game winning run was following by back-to-back losses once again. Returning to his favoured position of lock in the injury absence of Max Plath (foot), Gilbert finished with 91 running metres and 43 tackles – however, he did miss seven – in the Dolphins' 36-26 Magic Round defeat to the Roosters. He partook minimally in Monday's opposed session at Redcliffe due to sternum pain, however is not expected to be in any doubt for Thursday night's clash with the Eels. Loading Despite Gilbert's indifferent start – running for more than 100 metres just once this year, while averaging 42 tackles a game – Kaufusi was adamant Gilbert needed to be ushered into the fray when Queensland coach Billy Slater names his squad for the series opener on May 28. Incumbent Maroons lock and Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter will miss the next two games through suspension, but would still be free to come into consideration, but Gilbert could still garner a chance on the left edge against New South Wales champion, Martin. 'Absolutely, he's one of those players you would pick no doubt, and he would go out and give it his all,' Kaufusi, who played in all three Origin games last year, said.
The Age
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
How Magic Round cured and created these huge State of Origin headaches
Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi has declared his skipper Tom Gilbert should 'absolutely' be brought back into the Queensland Maroons' fold, potentially setting up an enthralling clash with Blues counterpart Liam Martin. It has taken time for the two-time State of Origin star to work back towards his best football, having missed the best part of 18 months while he recovered from a dislocated shoulder suffered in his last Maroons appearance in 2023, before rupturing his ACL upon his comeback. The 24-year-old has endured a rollercoaster introduction to the captaincy, overseeing four-straight defeats to launch their campaign, before a three-game winning run was following by back-to-back losses once again. Returning to his favoured position of lock in the injury absence of Max Plath (foot), Gilbert finished with 91 running metres and 43 tackles – however, he did miss seven – in the Dolphins' 36-26 Magic Round defeat to the Roosters. He partook minimally in Monday's opposed session at Redcliffe due to sternum pain, however is not expected to be in any doubt for Thursday night's clash with the Eels. Loading Despite Gilbert's indifferent start – running for more than 100 metres just once this year, while averaging 42 tackles a game – Kaufusi was adamant Gilbert needed to be ushered into the fray when Queensland coach Billy Slater names his squad for the series opener on May 28. Incumbent Maroons lock and Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter will miss the next two games through suspension, but would still be free to come into consideration, but Gilbert could still garner a chance on the left edge against New South Wales champion, Martin. 'Absolutely, he's one of those players you would pick no doubt, and he would go out and give it his all,' Kaufusi, who played in all three Origin games last year, said.
Perth Now
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Double injury blow for Dolphins, Molo in frame
The Dolphins will be without key forwards Felise Kaufusi and Jeremy Marshall-King for the away trip to Canberra. There was better news on versatile forward Max Plath, who suffered a foot ligament injury in the 42-22 win over Melbourne on Friday night. Plath is rated a chance of playing against the Raiders on Sunday. Prop forward Kaufusi, who sustained a medial ligament strain against the Storm, may only miss the one week. Hooker Marshall-King has not scrubbed up after a nasty gash to his thigh in the round-six win over Penrith got infected. "We really want to make sure Jeremy's cut heals properly before he does anything, so the best way to look after him is to give him another week's break," Dolphins performance chief Jeremy Hickmans said. "Felise is in a brace at this point but if all goes according to plan he could play against the Roosters (in round nine). "Plath has a foot ligament injury, but with some luck and the long turnaround into the game, he could take the field against the Raiders." The injury to Kaufusi has opened the door for former St George Illawarra prop Frank Molo to make his club debut. Molo has been playing for CQ Capras in the Queensland Cup but is set for his first NRL match of the season.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dolphins veteran shoulders blame, but no panic at 0-2
Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi has copped his share of the blame for the side's lukewarm start to the Kristian Woolf NRL era, but stopped short of labelling their 0-2 record a concern. The Redcliffe side were ill-disciplined and disjointed in a 26-12 loss to Newcastle on Thursday. That result followed an opening-round 16-14 defeat to South Sydney in a clash relocated south because of the threat of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred. They'll host an improved Wests Tigers at Redcliffe in a crucial Saturday clash, the Tigers fresh off a 32-6 thrashing of Parramatta. "I don't think concerned is the right word," 32-year-old Kaufusi said of the side's start since former assistant Woolf took over from Wayne Bennett. "Some adversity these first two rounds ... we're changing our game (under Woolf). "We're looking forward to being back home, with a full week of training with no interruptions." The former Queensland State of Origin enforcer wasn't shirking responsibility for the side's ill-disciplined effort against the Knights. His messy play-the-ball to open the game - one of three from the team - and an unnecessary penalty in attack when the score was 6-0 set the tone. "Discipline .. that roll ball to start the game," he lamented. "We got no momentum through that game ... there's things you look back on and could have been better at. "You've got to look in your own backyard, myself included, and we're not looking to point the finger." The Dolphins are likely to welcome back spark-plug Jack Bostock, last season's Dally M rookie of the year, from a knee injury to face the Tigers. "His energy will be awesome for us," Kaufusi said of the "cheeky" winger.
