LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a bold move, Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has thrown his support behind rookie fullback Trai Fuller, praising his impressive performance in Sunday's nail-biting 18-14 loss to the Knights at Suncorp Stadium.
However, Bennett has made the tough call to rule out incumbent Maroons prop Tom Flegler and star centre Herbie Farnworth for their upcoming NRL round nine clash against the Cowboys in Townsville.
Fuller, stepping into the shoes of regular Dolphins No.1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, showcased his talents on the field, catching Bennett's eye with his dynamic plays throughout the game.
Despite only being in his third NRL match, Fuller's efforts did not go unnoticed as Bennett commended him for his relentless drive to push the Dolphins back into contention after a slow start against Newcastle.
"He (Trai) was outstanding.
There were other players who gave it their all...
I have great admiration for that never-give-up attitude.
They just ran out of steam," Bennett remarked.
Dolphins teammate Mark Nicholls also commended the liveliness that Fuller brings to the team.
"He's a real firecracker...
I've been trying to tackle him in training since he was 18 months old, so I know how tough it can be...
I wouldn't want to be on the opposing team trying to tackle him when I'm exhausted," Nicholls joked.
"He had a great game and really made a difference for us when we needed it.
We came close, but unfortunately couldn't secure the win."