Bromwich: ‘I just want to play finals’

Dolphins NRL captain Jesse Bromwich is not dwelling on the possibility that this weekend’s do-or-die clash with the Knights could be his last game, saying if his side plays like they did against the Broncos he’s confident they will play finals footy.

The 35-year-old will retire at the end of this season, after 337 games in the NRL – 42 as the Dolphins’ inaugural captain.

“I’ve had a few questions from my kids about how I’m feeling towards my last game ... honestly, it’s not about me. It’s just about the team and doing my job for the team this week and going out there and putting in a really good performance against a solid side for a finals spot,” he said after training today.

“There’s no game bigger than that for us this year.

“I think destiny’s in our hands, so to speak. If we go out there this weekend, replicate what we did on the weekend ... I’m pretty confident. So, I’m not even thinking about the last game.”

Bromwich returns to the team for their must-win game in Newcastle on Sunday (4.05pm kick off) after missing the Dolphins’ 40-6 Battle of Brisbane win over the Broncos due to concussion protocols.

“Obviously, I’m really proud of the boys for the performance they put in. It was a pretty special performance considering it was the Battle of Brisbane, we’d never beaten the Broncs before, 52,000 people at Suncorp ... there was plenty on the line ... a finals spot on the line,” he said.

“For the boys to go out and deliver the way they did, I was super proud. Thinking about myself, it was pretty hard to watch some of that but once I got over that I wasn’t playing, I was super proud of the boys and couldn’t be more happy for them.”

Super Coach Wayne Bennett made several changes to the team ahead of the game, in a move which surprised many but paid off.

“He was on fire all last week. I said that to him after one of the meetings ... he just had a different energy about him,” Bromwich said.

It seems the changes may stick, with players training in the positions they held last week, but anything is possible with Kodi Nikorima and Jeremy Marshall-King on the interchange bench.

Herbie Farnworth left today’s training session early with a suspected hamstring complaint, but we’re told there is no concern about his fitness for this weekend’s game.

Felise Kaufusi has been cleared to play after successfully having a dangerous contact charge downgraded.

Bromwich is expecting a hostile reception from the crowd and the Knights’ forward pack.

“I think their forwards will be coming out to try to get one over us. It’s important that we go out and start the game really well. I look forward to going out there and having a crack,” he said.

So, if the Dolphins win, can they do what the Cowboys did in 2017 and make it to the grand final from eighth position on the ladder?

“I’m confident that if we go out and perform the way we performed on the weekend, anything can happen,” Bromwich, who was part of the Storm team who beat the Cowboys said.

“We’ve got a really good coach who has been there plenty of times. I don’t know how many times he’s coached finals footy, but he knows how to get teams up.

“We’ve got some boys who are playing really good footy. If they turn up with the same attitude they had last week, and the forwards go forward and do their job, I’m pretty confident that we can go and give it a shake.”

Making the finals would be a fairytale ending for Bromwich, but he’s not focused on how his rugby league story ends.

“I just focus on what I’ve got to do. That’s it ... don’t worry about retirement ... it’s going to come. I’ll handle that when I get there. I just want to play finals,” he said.