Veteran props back for Dolphins as finals run heats up

Joel Gould | July 28, 2025

The injury-ravaged Dolphins are set to welcome back veteran props Felise Kaufusi and Mark Nicholls for the away clash with the Warriors.

It’s perfect timing for the eighth-placed Dolphins as they target a maiden finals appearance in the NRL.

Nicholls (concussion) missed the 43-24 win over North Queensland before last week’s bye while Kaufusi has not played since sustaining a medial cruciate ligament (MCL) injury in round 15.

“We have got a pretty young, inexperienced forward pack so having those two guys back is going to help,” in-form forward Connelly Lemuelu said.

“Felise brings aggression. We have been playing with a lot of aggression and he just comes in and adds to that.”

In other promising signs five-eighth Kodi Nikorima (hamstring) trained with the main 13 on Monday as did barnstorming back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (broken thumb).

The duo are close to an NRL return and could be named in an extended squad for Friday night’s clash in Auckland.

Nikorima has not played since sustaining a hamstring tear in the round-17 clash with South Sydney and the club will not rush him in against the Warriors unless they are convinced he can handle the match and the international travel that goes with it.

Finefeuiaki is close to a return but his thumb was heavily strapped on Monday after he sustained the fracture in round 19 against Cronulla.

“They are really diligent with their recovery. They have still got a couple of boxes to tick and we are hoping to have them back soon,” Lemuelu said. 

The Dolphins, on 24 points, likely need to win three of their remaining six matches to play finals after going so close last year when they narrowly lost in the final round against Newcastle to just miss out.

“We were a couple of minutes away from making finals footy last year and that’s something that is in the back of mind that we were so close,” Lemuelu said.

“To play finals this year would mean a lot. This is my fifth year in the NRL and I haven’t had a finals game under my belt yet so it is quite exciting that opportunity comes this year.”  

The clash is a homecoming for New Zealand-born Lemuelu.

“I grew up in South Auckland so it’s always good going back to play the Warriors there,” he said.

“I have a lot of family and friends who have messaged me asking for tickets so I am just excited to go back and play in front of those people.”