Kulikefu Finefeuiaki's transformation into an 80-minute second-rower has helped earn him a Dolphins contract through 2029 and a Queensland State of Origin debut.
The 22-year-old has started all 22 of his matches this season, after playing most of his 37 North Queensland games from the bench.
Coach Kristian Woolf began reshaping him during a lunch with Terry Reader and Ben Woolf before Finefeuiaki joined the Dolphins in 2024.
"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 told AAP.
Woolf also urged him to eat more vegetables, prompting Finefeuiaki to restrict his diet and abandon the Tongan dish Lu Sipi after previously gaining weight.
"Credit to Woolfy. Without him I probably wouldn't be here," he said.
Finefeuiaki called his Origin debut "One of the highlights of my career so far" and described his re-signing as a no-brainer.
Inspired by North Queensland's 2015 grand-final triumph, he wants the Dolphins to beat the Sydney Roosters in Friday's preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
"It would mean the world to win it here with these boys," Finefeuiaki said.