PETER FALEFITU - the new smiliing assasin.
IF early premonitions come true, the front-row will prove one of the hardest contested positions with the Harcourts Dolphins this season.
At least eight contenders have lined up for the two run-on spots although Redcliffe coach Gary O'Brien is a strong fan of prop back-up on the interchange bench.
The retirement of Troy Lindsay and departure of Craig Heslop (overseas), Nick Walker (Dalby) and Lachlan Morgan (Wynnum-Manly) leaves a hole in the ranks, although hulking Innisfail front-rower Peter Falefitu has emerged from the pack as a serious rival.
"Peter is making every step a winner. He is busting his backside each and every session," O'Brien said. "He is a good talker on the paddock and seems to be settling in and getting on well with the boys." Falefitu arrived at Dolphin Oval via the same recruiting network that lured Palmer Wapau to the club. "Palmer had also played at Innisfail and I knew that he had gone to Redcliffe," the Kiwi said.
"James Hinchey contacted me late last year and asked if I wanted to join the club.
"I did not need much prompting. Northern Pride had shown interest but took a while to get back to me. "I asked around and was told that Redcliffe was most probably the best club in the Queensland Cup." Falefitu, 24, said he had no regrets about leaving North Queensland. "It's fantastic down here,' he said. "I love the boys, the coaching staff and the facilities.
I'm not a big swimmer but having the pool here is great and I have never come across a set-up that has got everything. So far it all seems to be good." The 106 kilogram prop comes with the right credentials. He joined the Innisfail club, which plays in the Cairns competition, from Richmond Rovers club in Auckland. He impressed Innisfail in his first season, so much so that they asked him to stay on. Last season he stepped up to the Cairns Marlins representative side, helping them secure the prestigious Foley Shield.
"I was pretty stoked about that," he said. "I've now got a representative side under my belt and am looking for new challenges. "One of my dreams was to play league in Australia.
I always wanted to come over and didn't want to be stuck at home in New Zealand.
"My break came when I was playing Oztag when I took a season off playing league. I was playing for New Zealand against Australia and this dude asked if I wanted to play league in Cairns. "The heat up north was not too bad. The hardest thing was getting up to the fitness level required." Ironically, fellow New Zealander James Crombie could prove one of Falefitu's main rivals to a Queensland Cup spot. The victim of a horrendous ankle break late last season, Crombie has bounced back and hopes to show the form that made him a likely target for NRL clubs. Other rivals could include youngster Rhys Cooke, who made his Queensland Cup debut last season, Adam Marr and hefty Tweed Heads recruit Chris Farrell, as well as Wapau if he is not used in the second-row. However the ranks of contenders were diminished with Kris Kahler deciding to pursue his overseas hopes with Gateshead Thunder. "Adam Starr is also here and he's a good bloke," he said. "He leads the way and you have to work hard to keep up with him. He definitely keeps everyone on their toes."
A painter by trade, Falefitu said work was plentiful in Brisbane and he was enjoying living on the Peninsula. "It's a bit faster paced than Cairns but Redcliffe is pretty chilled and I really enjoy living here," he said. www.redcliffedolphins.com.au
