Storm coach has Kaufusi raring to go
FORGET the fact Felise Kaufusi has emerged as one of the competition’s genuine hitmen, the softly spoken secondrower is more fearful of a Craig Bellamy spray than he is of any opposition player.
After a slow post-Origin stint, Kaufisi was summoned to Bellamy’s office in the lead-up to Melbourne’s opening finals match against South Sydney.
Kaufisi knew what he was in for with the coach.
“He calls me into his office to show me some video and it’s generally not a good thing,” Kaufisi said. “I dread going in there. It’s not usually good things he shows but it’s just the way he coaches.
“Craig challenged me. He said he prodded me with a stick. I needed to step up. That’s what was needed to help the team.
“I’m pretty relaxed ... (but) Craig does try to stir me up a little bit. He tries everything. Whatever he has been doing it’s been working.
“Little words here and there of encouragement and what he wants to see from me on the game day.”
What followed was arguably the Kangaroos and Maroons back-rower’s best performance in the top grade. He overpowered Sam Burgess before backing up the performance with another strong showing against Cronulla last week.
“Craig has told me I play my best when I’m aggressive and I need to do it from the get-go,” Kaufusi said.
Teammate Jesse Bromwich said Bellamy knew how to unlock Kaufisi’s aggressive edge.
“He is so relaxed off the field. Craig knows how to push his buttons and get him fired up,” he said. “Sometimes calling him into the office is what it takes. It must work.”