It has been a fine line between pleasure and pain for Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi this year but he has vowed to display targeted aggression and not cross the line against Brisbane on Saturday night.
The man known as 'Phin Diesel' by his teammates for the fear he fuels in opponents has felt the pain of seven weeks on the sidelines in 2023 courtesy of two suspensions for dangerous contact.
He has also brought much pleasure to his teammates and Dolphins fans. His man-of-the-match display in the club's inaugural game was full of powerful and legal defence that resulted in a stunning 28-18 win over Sydney Roosters.
The first infringement Kaufusi missed matches for this year was for a late hit on Newcastle playmaker Jackson Hastings in round three when he was suspended for four weeks. The second was for a wallop on his former Melbourne teammate Christian Welch, for which he received a three-week ban.
Kaufusi was asked what he'd done to get his discipline in check.
"I've missed a lot of footy this year and that's not good in itself. I need to be available for the Dolphins and (play) well within the rules," he said.
"Aggression is a part of my game and part of who I am but I can still be within the rules."
Coach Wayne Bennett suggested after Kaufusi's second suspension the penny hadn't dropped with him about staying within the rules.
"It is just about knowing where the line is. (Bennett) definitely doesn't coach to try and do ... stupid stuff, which is what I did," he said.
"I've had some time to think of my actions and how careless it was. There is a line you just can't cross."
In previous decades Kaufusi's hit on Hastings would have hardly raised an eyebrow, but times have changed.
"Someone said to me that I was probably born in the wrong era," he said.
"Back in the 1980s and 1990s you are not even looking at it twice ... but there are rules in this game for a reason."
The veteran second-rower missed the first 'Battle of Brisbane' this year due to suspension but is determined to fire at the Gabba against cross-town rivals the Broncos.
Kaufusi said the Dolphins must fix their recent poor starts. Last week they trailed 42-4 at half-time against Parramatta before losing 48-20.
"Some of those tries were pretty soft and embarrassing to be honest and we are looking to start a lot faster and harder," he said.
"I've just got to do my job. I'm not looking to overplay my hand or do any flick passes. I've got nothing special in me. I'm just looking to run hard and tackle hard."
