NRL 2023: Why Dolphins star Felise Kaufusi believes fate made him leave Melbourne Storm
Felise Kaufusi took a gamble quitting the ultra-successful Melbourne Storm to join new NRL club the Dolphins - but a family tragedy vindicated his decision.
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It took a leap of faith for Felise Kaufusi to quit the Melbourne Storm and become the first player to sign with the Dolphins. But the Queensland hit-man believes it may have been fate that brought him to Redcliffe.
Kaufusi will come up against his former Melbourne teammates for the first time in Saturday night’s Dolphins-Storm blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
And while the Dolphins enforcer admits he misses Melbourne and his old club in some ways, Kaufusi has never felt more at peace.
“I love Melbourne, the club and its culture. Even the city itself. If I had family down there I’d live in Melbourne,” Kaufusi said.
“I miss it a lot, the people there, the team, but it’s the way life’s gone and I’ve had to make a decision. I was comfortable making that decision.
“One of the main reasons I came up here was to be closer to family. I grew up in Bundaberg, about four hours up the road, so to be around family again was important.
“I’ve got four kids so to have that support after being away for 10 years was a major factor.
“I also wanted to be part of history and a foundation player at the Dolphins to try and build something special.”
THE DECISION
Kaufusi became the first player to commit to the Dolphins when he signed with the expansion club in November, 2021, just a month after Redcliffe was granted the NRL’s 17th licence.
The Dolphins had no playing roster for Kaufusi to weigh up. The only guarantee was that seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett would be at the helm.
Kaufusi only had one demand when he was in negotiations with the Dolphins about leaving the ultra-successful Storm, who he debuted for in 2015.
“When I talked to Wayne I said ‘I don’t care who I play with, I just want to be competitive’,” he said.
“I didn’t want to come into a team where people were thinking ‘these guys are easy beats, it’s a week off or trial game’.
“I wanted to be competitive in a team that never gives up and plays the whole 80 minutes.”
Bennett gave Kaufusi his word that the Dolphins wouldn’t be cannon-fodder – and he was right, despite predictions they’d be in wooden spoon contention.
So Kaufusi inked a three-year deal to become the club’s first NRL recruit, giving the Dolphins an Origin and Test player to build on.
He wouldn’t be the last Melbourne player to make the move north, with New Zealand Test brothers Jesse and Kenny Bromwich later committing to the Dolphins.
“The little shits didn’t even tell me they were thinking of coming,” Kaufusi said with a laugh.
“I made the jump for my own reasons and they did as well. But they never asked me or anything.
“When Jesse signed I thought ‘surely Kenny’s got to come now’ but even he wasn’t saying anything. I was asking him and he gave me nothing.
“They had their own reasons to make that jump and I’m more than happy to have them here. It’s a comfort as well knowing what they’re like and what they bring to the team.”
THE TRAGEDY
Kaufusi, 30, spent eight NRL seasons with the Storm, winning two premierships and playing 173 games for the perennial title contenders.
He had become a regular in Queensland’s State of Origin team and was playing alongside NRL superstars like Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant every week.
But as he approached the twilight of his career, Kaufusi realised he needed to be closer to home in Queensland.
Little did he know, he would be needed more than ever by those closest to him.
In the lead-up to last year’s Origin decider, Kaufusi made a mercy dash to the United States to be by his father Taniela’s hospital bedside after he contracted a serious infection.
Kaufusi missed Queensland’s epic series win and Taniela made it back to Australia following a dramatic flight, but died a month later in a Brisbane hospital.
The scars of Taniela’s death are still fresh, but Kaufusi has found comfort being back in Queensland.
“It was huge, I look back now at what we went through as a family and the whole way it went down,” Kaufusi said.
“I used footy as a bit of a Band-Aid at the time. I was happy to come back and play footy.
“When I got the chance to sit back and think ‘holy crap, the old man’s not here’, it was a shock. It’s still sinking in.
“I think it will still be there all the time. I’ve got to learn how to cope with it at different times.
“I made the decision to come back way before that but it’s funny how the world works. It’s a way of showing maybe it was the right decision to come back.
“I’m closer to family now and have got that support. It’s felt right.”
THE DREAM
Any accusations of the Storm trio taking ‘retirement cheques’ to join the Dolphins have been blown away by their early-season form.
Kaufusi has been nicknamed “Phin Diesel” on the back of his stinging defence while the Bromwich brothers have been excellent recruits.
The Dolphins-Storm grudge match shapes as a cracker, with both teams boasting 6-4 records heading into the State of Origin period.
Many believed Kaufusi gave up the chance of winning a third NRL premiership by leaving Melbourne, but his competitive fire has never burned brighter and he would love to create history at Redcliffe.
“It would be huge (to win a premiership with the Dolphins), that’s what we dream about as players,” he said.
“If you’re not playing to win comps then I don’t know what you’re doing.
“It’s definitely the goal, but a lot of work has to go on to make it happen.
“We are still building and I like what I’m seeing at the moment. Everyone is willing to have a crack and you can’t ask for anything more.”
DOLPHINS’ STUNNING TWO-HOUR TICKET SCRAMBLE BEFORE LOCKOUT
—Robert Craddock
Dolphins fans who don’t have tickets for home games in south-east Queensland are about to face an extraordinary three month wait before they can see their in form team again.
The closure of Suncorp Stadium for the FIFA Women’s World Cup will force the Dolphins to smaller venues which will be packed to the rafters following the side’s stunning start to their first NRL season.
Saturday night’s clash against the Storm at Suncorp Stadium features the last available tickets for Dolphins games in their home region until they return to Suncorp Stadium on August 25.
The Dolphins first clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium – against the Eels on Saturday, June 24 – was sold out in just two hours.
The Dolphins next two games Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe – the Dragons on May 25 and Panthers on July 16 – are basically sell outs already at a stadium which, like the Sunshine Coast venue, has a capacity of around 10,000.
Even if the Dolphins had performed modestly in their opening season they would have expected to sell out the 10,000-seat venues but their stunning form surge which has them in sixth place on the ladder has created a massive early rush on tickets.
Forward Jarrod Wallace, who will play his 200th NRL game this Saturday, anticipated a spicy encounter where the Dolphins’ three key forward Storm recruits – Felise Kaufusi and Kenny and Jesse Bromwich – will play against their former team.
“It’s our last home game for three month at Suncorp so we want to be going out with a bang,’’ Wallace said.
“I am sure there will be a bit of talk between the Storm boys and the old Storm boys.’’
Wallace first played under Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett at the Broncos and jokes he has had countless sprays from the master coach.
“The one I will always remember was when I was called into the team for the first time and he said you have one game to prove yourself or you can find yourself another club.
“That stuck with me forever. But that was the reason I respected him so much. I knew where I stood with him. He told me exactly what I needed to do and I did it and I went on to play every game that year.
“Wayne is fun to be around. He is like hanging around with your grandad. You have no idea of the names he is bringing up but you just smile and wave.’’
The Dolphins have an intriguing selection choice with cult hero Valynce Te Whare in danger of losing his spot after a stunning debut due to the return of Brenko Lee.
Te Whare, dubbed Val Meninga, scored two tries on debut but Lee is highly rated by Bennett and his experience against a seasoned opponent like the Storm could be invaluable.
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