Dolphins win trifecta with recruits and rookie Pouniu
Joel Gould |
The Dolphins will unleash rising star Brian Pouniu and their trio of key signings against Gold Coast with all four earning their starting positions.
Brad Schneider (five-eighth), Morgan Knowles (lock) and Selwyn Cobbo (centre) will play their first games for the club.
Pouniu, 18, is the younger brother of Joseph Pouniu, whose burgeoning career was tragically cut short when he suffered a career-ending spinal injury after colliding with a goalpost while playing a junior match for the Gold Coast in 2023.
Joseph is now working as a Titans analyst and will be looking to get one over his brother on a special night for the family.
“Brian is an exciting young talent who came through our academy. He’s a big, fast, mobile-type backrower but gets his chance in the centres,” Dolphins assistant coach Nathan Fien said.
“We are keen to see how he handles the biggest game of his life so far.
“He seems like a very determined young man. He has been through a lot of adversity. More senior players would really struggle with some of the things his family has dealt with.”
Fien said it was a credit to Pouniu and his support network to have got him to this point. He has been signed by the Dolphins until 2028.
“We hope it is going to be the first game of many in Dolphins colours,” Fien said.
“(Joseph) will be up in the opposition coach’s box as well. We were just having a chat to Brian and he said his brother will be telling the Titans boys to run at No.4 for the Dolphins.”
Queensland flyer Cobbo, 23, needs no introduction to Dolphins fans. He was a scourge of the Dolphins while playing for Brisbane, scoring six tries in five games against them. He has turned up super-fit and ready to slot into the backline wherever required.
“Selwyn has hit the ground running. He’s come in looking quite fit and his results in testing backed that up,” Fien said.
“He’s very versatile and will get a crack at centre and might get a crack on the wing.”
Schneider, 24, spent the last two years in the Penrith system where he started in the halves and at hooker. He has played in five finals matches.
“He will get the opportunity at No.9 through the trial period as well. That versatility will be handy for us,” Fien said.
Knowles, 29, is England’s starting lock and with 246 Super League games for St Helens and four titles under his belt is a seasoned pro.
He has already won over Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert.
“Morgan did the best thing by coming here really fit and ready to train,” Gilbert said.
“He had to learn our footy as quickly as possible and he picked it up in a few days.
“It could take him a while to get used to things in the NRL but I doubt it.
“You know he is going to have a huge role in the club’s success and he has shown us that both sides of the ball.”
Fien’s son Noah, a promising half, will also get his chance off the bench on a night the coach said was “a proud moment for the family”.
AAP
