Re-signed Dolphins powerhouse Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has turned himself into an 80-minute second-rower but it was a first-up meeting with coach Kristian Woolf that won him over.
He has been mindful ever since about eating his vegetables to retain his streamlined frame.
The 22-year-old, on the books until the end of 2029 after signing a two-year extension last week, has been strict on his diet since joining the club in 2024.
After packing on the kilograms previously, he made the tough decision to give up Tongan delicacy Lu Sipi, a dish that includes taro leaves with lamb, onions and coconut cream.
Before initially signing for 2025, it was over lunch on the Redcliffe peninsula at the Belvedere Hotel with CEO Terry Reader, Woolf and his assistant coach and brother Ben Woolf that the Tongan international had an enlightenment moment.
"I had a Scotch fillet, medium-rare, with chips and salad," Finefeuiaki grinned, as he spoke to AAP on Monday.
"Woolfy was giving me the eye when I ate a lot more of the chips than the salad. He kept saying, 'you've got to eat your greens'.”
Woolf then told Finefeuiaki, who played most of his 37 games for North Queensland off the bench, that he needed to be lean and mean to fulfil the role he had in mind
"Woolfy said he didn;t want me to be a second-option back-rower like I was at the Cowboys, and that he wanted to develop me into an 80-minute back-rower,” Finefeuiaki said.
"He always tells me to keep an aggressive mindset so that is what I do. After every game I ask Woolfy if I am being aggressive enough.
“Credit to Woolfy. Without him I probably wouldn't be here."
This year the man known as "King Kuli" has played full games in all 22 matches that he has started and made his State of Origin debut for Queensland.
"One of the highlights of my career so far,” Finefeuiaki said.
"I love the culture we have here and the boys make it easy to come to training. It was a no-brainer for me to re-sign. They took a chance on me and now it is my job to repay them."
Finefeuiaki was fascinated by the 2015 grand final, which North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston won in golden point.
That is why he is itching to shine and ensure the Dolphins win Friday night's preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.
"JT had that conversion that hit the post and then landed the winning field goal," Finefeuiaki said.
"To see the passion the Cowboys had when they won it and how they celebrated ... hopefully we get that feeling soon.
"It would mean the world to win it here with these boys."
