‘Has he listened?’: Wayne Bennett questions Felise Kaufusi’s approach

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has questioned if enforcer Felise Kaufusi listens to him as he cops yet another suspension.

Wayne Bennett and Felise Kaufusi.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has questioned if enforcer Felise Kaufusi listens to him as he admitted his disappointment over the representative star’s latest suspension.

Kaufusi copped a three-game ban for his swinging arm to the head of Storm star and Queensland teammate Christian Welch, which rubbed him out of Origin I and club commitments for the next three weeks.

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Bennett told reporters on Wednesday that he was disappointed with his star forward for leaving the Dolphins short an experienced player during their first Origin period.

“Yeah I’m disappointed, but disappointment is not going to do anything for us,” Bennett said.

“We will just move on and get over it and we are moving on.”

Bennett believes Kaufusi needs to find the balance between aggression and playing within the rules of the game so that he doesn’t risk further suspensions in the future.

“That’s the way the game is and that’s the way it should be,” Bennett said.

Wayne Bennett is disappointed in Felise Kaufusi.

Felise Kaufusi has been suspended for three games including Origin I.

“It has always been the game and some guys just get it out of kilter sometimes.

“He is going to have to keep it himself to play within that framework of the game.

“You can be aggressive in the game, but you can’t do the things that are going to put you before the judiciary.

“That is being over-aggressive and that’s not what the game is about.”

Bennett revealed he had spoken to Kaufusi about his approach on multiple occasions, but questioned if he was copping the tip.

“I have had a few chats, but you know I would say, has he listened to them?” Bennett said.

However, Bennett stopped short of suggestions Kaufusi needs to tweak his tackling technique to avoid future suspensions.

“He doesn’t have to practice his tackling,” Bennett laughed.

“He has got a great tackle technique and you don’t want to take that out of his game.

“He has just got to readjust his mindset about how he wants to play, that’s all and when he can be aggressive and when he can’t.”

Originally published as ‘Has he listened?’: Wayne Bennett questions Felise Kaufusi’s approach