Kristian Woolf has heralded his stand-in centre Brian Pouniu after he stepped up in an emotional debut to help the Dolphins overcome Canberra at GIO Stadium.
With Herbie Farnworth a late scratching because of hamstring tightness, Woolf parachuted the 18-year-old into the Dolphins' starting lineup for his first taste of NRL action.
It was a significant feat for the youngster, who had to overcome adversity to reach the competition.
Pouniu's older brother Joseph, an emerging prop who was primed to join Gold Coast's top 30 squad in 2024, suffered a horror spinal injury when he crashed headfirst into a goalpost in 2023.
But on Thursday, the teenager dazzled while reaching his quadriplegic brother's dream, chalking up 59 metres as the Dolphins held strong to beat the Raiders 30-22.
