The Dolphins are well placed to cope with the State of Origin period as Trai Fuller continues to show why he is the best club fullback not playing regular NRL.
The 29-year-old was a powerhouse in the 48-10 win over Sydney Roosters on Friday night, when he made 284m from 28 rampaging runs and scored a blistering try in just his 20th NRL game in four seasons.
The Dolphins went fourth on the ladder with the win while playing without five of their Queensland stars, who watched the match from their Melbourne base ahead of the State of Origin clash at the MCG.
Fuller was filling in for Maroons outside back Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, known as "Hammer", who is the regular No.1 for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins are away to Wests Tigers in round 16 next Saturday, just three days after the Origin clash, and Fuller is set for another crack.
“Every good team has depth and every good player like Trai sitting there waiting for opportunities needs to be ready to go when the chance comes," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said after Friday's match
"He was (ready) tonight and he’ll get another opportunity next week.
“You never know how footy goes. One week you feel like you’re not in the team, the next week you’re playing and finishing the year with lots of games. It’s great having him."
Fuller has been in red-hot form for the Redcliffe Dolphins this year in the Queensland Cup.
On Tuesday he re-signed with the Dolphins until the end of 2027 after spurning a $1.7 million deal with Wakefield in Super League.
“We love having Trai here and I know he loves being here as well," Woolf said.
“Dolphins is his club. He’s played well over 100 games (for the Redcliffe Dolphins), even before it was an NRL club. He debuted here, he wants to be here longer, and we want to keep him here as long as he wants to be."
Woolf would rather give Fuller matches in the Queensland Cup than have him as a contingency on a six-man bench, where he has been used previously as cover for Tabuai-Fidow.
"It's a role he’s done at different times too, but the other thing you’ve got to remember with the rule and having six guys on the bench is there are two guys who don’t play every week," the coach said.
“Guys need to go and play footy too. It’s not a rule I really like, to be honest with you. I think it creates more confusion than help.
“Trai can’t just sit as number 19 every week and not play footy, then be expected to come in and play well, so it’s a balancing act.”
The Dolphins had wonderful contributions from the players who came into the side for their Origin representatives, with winger Tevita Naufahu and second-rower Oryn Keeley playing great games in the club's sixth victory in a row.
