All the hype has been around the early return of Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker from injury but Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has full faith his own No.7 has the skillset to shine in his biggest test yet.
Dolphins co-captain Isaiya Katoa, 22, will be integral to a win in the grand final qualifier against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Katoa has 18 try assists this year in 21 games. Walker has 21 in the same number of matches.
In linebreak involvements Katoa is second best in the NRL behind only Cody Walker, boasting 31 this year. Sam Walker has nine for the season.
It is Katoa's cool, calm and collected ability to make others around him better with subtle touches that sets him apart and makes him such a danger to the opposition and a weapon for his team.
Woolf said he expected Walker, back from a four-week layoff with an ankle injury, to line up for the Roosters and bring "a bit of the unknown" to the game but is just glad the Dolphins have Katoa.
"I certainly wouldn't swap Isaiya for anyone," Woolf said.
"I love what he brings as a person and how he carries himself and he plays with that same calmness and confidence that he has got in himself.
"I am looking forward to what he can do tomorrow night."
Katoa played with maturity in his first final experience, the 26-16 win in the away qualifying final against the Warriors after the Dolphins trailed 16-8.
"What impressed me was that he kept his cool regardless of the score and a hostile crowd that did influence some decisions," Woolf said.
"It really impressed me how he turned the game in the second half with kicking. It was a 10 out of 10 (performance) and allowed us to put the Warriors under pressure."
Woolf's message to all his players has been to "enjoy the week" and back the toughness and skill that has got them this far.
Founding Dolphins forwards Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Mark Nicholls spoke to the group on Thursday before their captain's run.
Woolf said the retired trio had "set a tone for what we want our culture to be and what sort of men we want representing the club".
"It was important for them to come in and brush shoulders with the players ... and the players loved seeing them," Woolf said.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has big game experience with three NRL titles to his credit.
Woolf, however, knows about finals footy better than most after taking St Helens to three Super League titles and a Challenge Cup final victory.
Dolphins lock Morgan Knowles played in those wins under Woolf at St Helens.
"He's pretty consistent with his messages but once he gets to this time of the year, less is more," Knowles told AAP.
"I remember the grand final in 2020 against Wigan back in the UK he only showed us one video clip all week.
"It was when we previously played them in the year and they had a bit of a carry-on and were trying to impose themselves on us. That is all he needed to show."
The players were fired up enough to not leave anything in the tank.
"In the big games it comes down to the little moments when you are willing to keep turning up, put your body on the line and make the plays that don't get noticed," Knowles said.
The Dolphins beat the Roosters 26-12 in round 26 when Woolf's men defended their line with grit.
It was the template for a style the coach said had been a strength ever since they were flogged 66-0 by Cronulla in round 19. Since then the Dolphins have won eight straight and averaged 16.75 points against per match.
Australian Associated Press
