Outside back Max Feagai's first press conference for the Dolphins, where he channelled John F. Kennedy, would have been music to the ears of new coach Kristian Woolf.

The late US President famously said "we choose to go to the moon and other things this decade, not because they are easy but because they are hard".

Feagai left St George Illawarra, and his dear twin brother Mat, behind to sign a two-year deal with a Dolphins side that has plenty of stars in the outside backs, including New Zealand international Jamayne Isaako, England flyer Herbie Farnworth and Dally M rookie-of-the-year Jack Bostock.

Ahead of the clash with the Cowboys in Cairns on Friday night, Feagai said he took the plunge because it was hard.

"The class of the players in the outside backs," he said was a key attraction.

"There is a lot to learn off them as well. I looked at it as more of a challenge ... to be a bit more uncomfortable. Someone close to me said that I probably perform better when I am more uncomfortable. That was a big thing for me.

"That's the thing about rugby league. It is part of the challenge and you just have to take it on."

Some players take a gig at a club because the door is open. Feagai wants to bash the door down, which has already impressed the Dolphins.

He reiterated several times on Tuesday how being "uncomfortable" in an environment was what he craved. He is reaching beyond the moon and for the "stars" that he must dislodge to win a starting berth in the NRL.

Feagai will play centre against the Cowboys, while former Wests Tigers flyer Junior Tupou is named on the wing.

The spine has Sean O'Sullivan at half and Jake Averillo in the five-eighth spot where he was so lethal in last year's late-season thrashing of Brisbane.

Versatile Fiji international Kurt Donoghoe will be given a crack at fullback.

Woolf had his eye on Feagai for at least 12 months and got his man.

"He did give me a call a few times last season and set up for me to come and have a tour of the place," Feagai said.

"There are big plans for the near future. There are outside backs I can learn off and we have a young group and older heads as well.

"It is a young club as well and you want to come in and be part of something. They did also tell me about the history in the Q Cup."

Woolf told Feagai he was a fan of his effort areas and the strength of his play out of back field.