A creative genius and a point-scoring whizz make a last stand. Can the Dolphins fill the void?

Jamayne Isaako has revealed he never wanted to leave the club he helped build from the ground up, and that proved responsible for resurrecting a career he contemplated walking away from.

In three of his four seasons in Dolphins colours, the Kiwi flyer has topped the NRL scoreboard – his 1043 points coming as he featured in all 97 games of the club’s history.

“It’s hard not to be reminded of when you’re watching footy games, someone’s taking the goal kick and your name pops up on the TV,” Isaako laughed.

Friday night’s preliminary final showdown with the Roosters will be the last time Isaako calls Suncorp Stadium home before he departs for the Storm, with Redcliffe unable to match the offer for his services to retain their growing contingent of rising stars and off-contract marquee men.

“It is a bit of a bittersweet moment. I would have loved to have stayed here, being a foundation member and player,” Isaako admitted.

“I didn’t want to leave, but at the end of the day, everyone in the game understands how the salary cap works, and we couldn’t come to an agreement.

“Being in this finals campaign, I want to give it a red-hot crack. I’m certainly coming to the back end of my career and probably won’t get too many of these opportunities.”

Much like Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, who conceded the Bulldogs’ decision to re-sign Reed Mahoney prompted him to explore a move from Belmore, Isaako’s career was uncertain until he received a lifeline from then-coach Wayne Bennett, having been released by the Broncos and not re-signed by the Titans in the same 2022 season.

“When I came here I was at a bit of a crossroads with my career, and I wasn’t too sure whether or not I still wanted to play footy,” Isaako said.

“I saw the quality of players, the foundation players they had signed here – the Bromwich brothers [Jesse and Kenny], Mark Nicholls, Felise Kaufusi, who were at the top of their game at the time – and I saw an opportunity to be part of a winning team.

In a backline blessed with the flair of Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Jack Bostock and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako has been a calming, unflappable influence.

One of the rising stars he has mentored is part of the reason he could not be retained.

Plucked from New Zealand rugby union, Tevita Naufahu recalled his brief conversation with Bennett before securing his first NRL deal, laughing at how the super coach – known for his distaste for handshakes – grimaced when the rookie extended his hand, before labelling him “a presentable kid”.

“That’s all he told me – I look like I have good manners. The next time I came back, I had a watch on trying to look more presentable for him and prove my point,” the 20-year-old laughed.