Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi has revealed a “little smirk” from Roosters hooker Brandon Smith sparked his tackling rampage in his facet’s shock 28-18 win.
Kaufusi was awarded the Arthur Beetson Medal for participant of the match because the NRL’s latest franchise secured victory over the premiership heavyweights of their debut look.
The 30-year-old backrower was a person on a mission and one second with former Storm teammate Smith started a sequence of damaging tackles.
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Late within the first half Kaufusi tried to belt Egan Butcher earlier than Smith pushed him within the again, enraging the veteran ahead who turned again right into a ruck and gave away a “silly penalty”.
Then when his probability arose, Kaufusi took it with each palms and flatted Smith throughout a play on the left facet of the sphere, with the Tricolours No.9 left grabbing at his ribs.
“He actually pissed me off that little rascal. I think he pushed me, he pushed me and I looked back to try and see who it was and he just gave me a little smirk,” Kaufusi stated on NRL360.
“In the heat of the moment it got the better of me and I gave away a silly penalty and that’s something that I wanted to make up for.
“I got my chance and I tried to make sure that I got him, and I got lucky there.”
Smith himself was requested “did you spray Kaufusi as well?” by James Graham and he additionally stated a “little smile” sparked Kaufusi’s rage.
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“No I didn’t spray him, I remember he did a swinging arm and I kind of walked over and pushed him,” Smith stated on The Bye Round Podcast.
“But like I didn’t say anything to him, and then he kind of ran back and we had a little giggle for a moment and then he got a penalty.
“Then I had my little smile on, but I didn’t say anything, I’m not a big sprayer on the field.”
Kaufusi additionally spoke about Wayne Bennett’s teaching philosophy and the way he was capable of mastermind to shock victory.
“He’s pretty cool, calm and collected, his message was pretty simple, he obviously knew how big an occasion it was going to be and just told us to keep it simple,” Kaufusi stated.
“It was great to get that first win straight off the bat and on such a big occasion.
“But we’ve got so much more to play for, every game we play will be our first.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
