"For him to get pulled down by the judiciary, it's going to be real tough," Kaufusi said. "All I can say is I'll be doing my best to try and play as well as I can, just for him."

Kaufusi missed last season's decider against the Storm's opponents this year, Manly, after suffering a knee injury in Origin I.

"It was tough," Kaufusi said. "But I was always positive for the boys. They're a great bunch of blokes and they worked their arse off for everything. It's no different this year. Last year, even though I didn't play, I did feel part of it. With everything, team meetings, training, you're always in there. For me being injured, I stayed positive around the boys - I didn't want to be down in the dumps and let that vibe get on to the boys … I'm just lucky enough to play in another one."

And like Matt Geyer and Michael Crocker, Kaufusi has the chance to do so in his final match for the club, having signed a long-term deal with North Queensland.

"I thought it was my last game last week [against Brisbane] and I got to fight another day," the 23-year-old said. "Fingers crossed if we play well I might get that ring on my finger.

"This bunch of players, I call my best mates. I've come through the system here. People say you play in a grand final and you work for a year. But it's been a five-year process for me, because I've been here that long. To go out playing in a grand final with these guys, it's going to be amazing."