Tough-as-teak Ray Stone is not Tom Gilbert, but that doesn't matter to Dolphins players.
They just want him to be Ray Stone.
That should be enough to unsettle a few North Queensland players in Sunday's NRL clash at Suncorp Stadium when the 26-year-old wears the No.13 jersey.
When lock forward Gilbert, the Dolphins' best player, ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-season trial, it was a massive blow to their campaign.
Coach Wayne Bennett was crestfallen but told AAP there was one obvious replacement for the Queensland firebrand.
"Ray is in the Tom Gilbert category. He plays the same type of footy," Bennett said.
Stone's teammates speak of him with some reverence. He is known for putting his head where most dare not, and playing with no thought of self-preservation.
It has led to him playing through pain and injuries his teammates knew nothing about.
"Stoney, you know what you are going to get with Stoney," Dolphins prop Josh Kerr said.
"He is an absolute freak and has a few screws loose up in that head. Last year he kept breaking his hand and we didn't know.
"He kept playing like there was nothing wrong with it. I am an absolute coward compared to him."
Captain Jesse Bromwich said Stone would not let anyone down.
"Ray puts his body through all sorts. He is not the biggest guy, but does everything for the team," he said.
Second-rower Felise Kaufusi said there was a different feeling at the Dolphins ahead of their second season compared to their inaugural year in the competition, when they finished 13th.
"It was a bit of a free-for-all season last year. No one expected anything really," Kaufusi said.
"We didn't ourselves, but this year it's been a whole 180 (degree flip). We know what we're capable of, we know what players we've got, and we're just pushing to finish as high as we can."
He has also noted a change in head coach Wayne Bennett.
"From last year's pre-season it's really lifted up a notch and he's not making any compromises, where he did last year with trying to get the team to gel and come as one," Kaufusi said.
"This year he's been pretty cut-throat and there's so much healthy competition, which keeps our team in good stead."
