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Fiji star playmaker gives Dolphins a good No. 6 headache
Joel Gould, AAP • October 26th, 2026 7:00 am
Kurt Donoghoe showed his genius at No.6 in a man-of-the-match display for Fiji | Photo: Matt Roberts/AAP
Fiji five-eighth Kurt Donoghoe says he is willing to play in the No. 6 position for the Dolphins if required as he targets overcoming New Zealand and making the World Cup semi-finals.
Donoghoe set up three tries and was man-of-the-match in the 36-22 loss to Australia in Brisbane on Sunday night.
"Honestly, he lifted this team tonight. He deserved that man-of-the-match and I have never seen anyone for Fiji in the six play better," Bati captain Api Koroisau said.
Fiji were ahead 16-12 in the second half thanks largely to Donoghoe's mastery in the playmaking role.
A win over the Kiwis on Saturday on the Gold Coast will get the Bati into the semis after they beat Cook Islands 40-12 in round one.
Kurt Donoghoe (left) bamboozled the Australian defence in the World Cup clash | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Donoghoe played mostly off the bench this year to lift the Dolphins to the preliminary final. He wants to start next season. The Dolphins have signed England captain George Williams to play No. 6 in 2027 but expect he will also fill in at half when Isaiya Katoa is in NSW camp.
Donoghoe, who is mostly a ball-playing lock when he comes on for coach Kristian Woolf at the Dolphins, said he was up for any challenge.
"I enjoy playing at six but what is best for the team is probably me playing at lock. I will have to see what Woolfy says. I don't know what he is thinking," Donoghoe told AAP.
"I love both positions and I am happy to play in either for the Dolphins. If I could play any position it would be lock or five-eighth.
"I am definitely confident in my ability and really enjoyed playing five-eighth against Australia. I hadn't played there in a while before this World Cup so I was looking forward to the challenge.
"I was probably a bit rusty at training in my first training session but after last week's win over Cook Islands the confidence has been growing in myself and I have some great players outside me on my edge."
Donoghoe threw three perfect cut-out passes for winger Semi Valemei to score a hat-trick.
He said he had no doubt the Bati could knock over New Zealand on the Gold Coast and progress to the semi-finals.
Semi Valemei scores one of his three tries for Fiji, all set up by Kurt Donoghoe | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
"For sure," he said.
"A lot of people wrote us off against Australia but we kept turning up for one another. It is not about who you have got. It is about how much love you have for your jersey and for each other.
"That is what Fiji does so well, bringing us all together. There are boys in our team that people wouldn't know but they put their names up in lights."
Fiji lock Caleb Navale has made a stunning return from an ACL injury | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Lock Caleb Navale, who was one of the best on the park, is one of them. The Manly powerhouse suffered an ACL rupture in the pre-season and returned to play post-surgery in 186 days in a tribute to his commitment.
"I watched him come back in his first game and he blitzed it," Donoghoe said.
"He played big minutes last week and again tonight. He is a week-in and week-out NRL player and he has a big year coming up for sure.
"Caleb is just so tough. He has the leg speed and he is so strong. I have so much respect for him."
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