Tips: Dolphins on notice after star left ‘screaming’ at coach
Andrew Johns has warned the Dolphins to be prepared for a fired-up Naufahu Whyte after the Roosters prop was left “screaming” at his coach last week.
The 24-year-old has been the best middle forward in the NRL this year, going past the likes of Payne Haas and James Fisher-Harris for the title.
Naufahu Whyte of the Roosters runs the ball. Getty Images
But as his Chooks pulled Cronulla’s pants down in a 46-10 semi final rout last weekend, the hulking Kiwi was left sitting on the bench by Trent Robinson.
Whyte played just 25 minutes against the Sharks, with Robinson opting to put his best big man on ice ahead of Friday night’s preliminary final clash with the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
Now the Brisbane-based side faces the prospect of a well-rested, and very frustrated Roosters prop tearing them to shreds.
“He wasn’t happy last week, he came out publicly and said,” Johns told Nine’s NRL Tips.
“He only played 25 minutes, he said he was on the bench screaming.
“Which is good, you want him out there.”
While the Roosters beat the Sharks easily to reach the preliminary final, club legend Brad Fittler saw some worrying signs from the Tricolours.
“The one place they looked a little bit vulnerable was when (Sharks hooker) Blayke Brailey went through the middle,” Fittler said.
“Every now and then the Roosters forwards get a little tired and tardy around there, so watch out for (Dolphins hooker) Jeremy Marshall-King.”
The Dolphins have the wood over the Roosters this season, and head into Friday’s game with the added benefit of a week’s rest.
They upset the Warriors in Auckland a fortnight ago to earn that right, and now host a final at Suncorp Stadium for the first time.
Even though the Roosters played last week, Johns pointed out Cronulla didn’t exactly run the Chooks ragged.
“You’ve got to say last week against Cronulla, the last 50 minutes was like a club game,” Johns said.
“But look at that game against Penrith, the intensity in that game when Roosters got beat, (last week was) nowhere near that.”
As for Sunday’s game, Johns is the only expert tipster backing the Knights to upset the Panthers and reach a first grand final in 25 years.
Scroll below for preliminary final tips by all Nine’s expert tipsters!
