“We were just having a chat to Brian then, and he said his brother will be telling the Titans boys to run at No.4 for the Dolphins, so we’ll see how he handles himself.
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“I think [Joseph] will be up in the opposition coaching box as well.
“He’s a big, fast, mobile backrower, but he gets a chance in the centres to prove his worth there. Players want to play with Brian, and we’re really keen to see how he handles what will be the biggest game of his life so far.”
Pouniu will partner former Brisbane Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo in the centres.
He will be joined by fellow recruit Morgan Knowles, with the English Super League champion lining up at lock in a pack featuring Thomas Flegler – who will come off the bench – and fellow injury-plagued star Tom Gilbert.
It has been a harrowing period for Flegler, with the former Queensland Maroons enforcer lasting just four games into his move from the Broncos to Dolphins before suffering severe nerve damage in his shoulder.
After undergoing transplant surgery, he has set about building his strength to make an NRL return, and Fien confirmed he was shaping for a round-one berth.
“He’s either zero or 100 miles an hour, and our high-performance staff have done a really good job just keeping him progressing and under wraps, but he’s ready to go – he wouldn’t be stepping out if he wasn’t,” Fien said.
“We’re very excited from a coaching point of view to see Flegs back in action. What is it, 600-odd days since he’s pulled on that Dolphins jersey?
“Having a player like that come into your squad when he’s been out for so long just adds another piece to the mix and definitely will strengthen us.”
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