By Nick Wright
If the Dolphins thought a Wayne Bennett preseason was gruelling, apparently it is nothing compared to what Kristian Woolf has dished up.
“It’s definitely true,” prop Josh Kerr said, when asked if the Woolf era has proven more daunting.
“I thought it was going to be a militaristic thing, and it kind of is. As soon as we hit the fitness drills, I was struggling – they have made them longer and harder than what they were last year.”
Kristian Woolf has upped the ante since taking over the Dolphins.Credit: NRL Photos
Each session has been a ferocious test of will. Squad members have taken on the dreaded beep test and general fitness training that has left them gasping for breath.
Attacking plays, opposed sessions – they seem to have largely gone out the window for now.
Woolf has given them a reality check. It is an approach Kerr believes will not only induce him to produce his best form, but rub off on the rest of the squad.
After beginning 2024 firing, at one stage leading the competition for offloads, the 28-year-old endured a run of minor injury concerns he admits he did not treat professionally enough.
He lamented not seeking out Bennett enough to address how he could return to the Dolphins’ top side, and finished the year in the Queensland Cup.
But the Redcliffe junior, off contract at the end of 2025, said Woolf has shot him between the eyes.
“Because I was scared of Woolfy I trained extra hard this off season and came back in way better shape, with more muscle mass,” Kerr said.
“Woolfy put the fear of God into me. At the end of season review, we obviously had a few extra weeks without football, and he said to me ‘you better make sure you are in shape’.
Josh Kerr believes he and the rest of the Dolphins squad will respond to the demands of new coach Kristian Woolf.Credit: NRL Photos
“I knew what was coming. I am off contract as well – my dream is to stay here long-term.
“That’s up to me, I had to come back in the best shape. I feel like I have done that, and I hopefully earn a contract and not just be given one.”
Woolf takes the Dolphins’ top job with an emphatic resume – three straight Super League premierships while taking Tonga from international minnows to Pacific Championships finalists.
But the Bennett curse is difficult to shake.
Anthony Seibold, Ivan Henjak, Steve Price, Rick Stone and Jason Demetriou were all sacked within three years of taking the reins from the 74-year-old – one criticism being their attempts to emulate his brand.
Bennett had a simple game plan: maintain possession and defend hard, without overplaying their hand, to keep a new mix of players still getting in-sync competitive in each contest.
But after starting their inaugural campaigns as top four threats, the Dolphins fell away, with injuries and suspensions coinciding with the fatigue suffered playing such a physically demanding style.
Kenny Bromwich, who experienced the harshest of taskmasters in Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, said there had been a noticeable change at Kayo Stadium to address those concerns.
“The standards have probably picked up a bit ... everything has just gone up a notch,” Bromwich said.
“You can’t keep doing the same thing expecting different results, so trying to get everybody a little bit fitter will be the main goal of this preseason.”
High among Woolf’s priorities will be finding a new captain after the retirement of Jesse Bromwich.
Tom Gilbert, who is bracing for an early season return from a ruptured ACL, looms as a favourite. But the State of Origin star, having spent the best part of 18 months out of the game, had not put his mind on earning the job yet.
“It’s not something I think you can focus on. All those leadership things need to come naturally and as organically as it can, and part of that is being yourself,” Gilbert said.
“For me being in any type of role like that, I need to be Tom Gilbert and the best footy player I can be. A big step in that direction is getting myself right.”
Tom Gilbert goes down in the Dolphins’ trial loss against the Warriors.Credit: Shane Wenzlick/Getty
The post-Bennett slumps have not been lost on the punters, who have the Dolphins as wooden spoon contenders, despite the recruitment of Daniel Saifiti and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
But upon hearing such a negative assessment, utility Max Plath scoffed: “We don’t give a rats. Woolfy has given us our coaching system since day one.
“We want to get fitter and faster than last year. There’s a lot more emphasis on wrestling and defence, and a bit stronger body language – all those things go a long way in a game.”
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