Dolphins star Tom Flegler receives fresh hope for career-threatening injury

It’s been 329 days since Tom Flegler was last seen in the NRL after a freak shoulder injury, but his career remains alive after doctors gave the the luckless Dolphins star some fresh hope.

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Embattled Tom Flegler’s NRL career remains alive with doctors giving the injured Queensland Origin enforcer hope of a return to the Dolphins.

The luckless Flegler has become rugby league’s forgotten man – it’s been 329 days since the Dolphins prop has been seen in the NRL following a freak shoulder injury that has left his career in limbo.

Flegler was trumpeted as the Dolphins’ marquee signing last year after Redcliffe’s $3 million poaching raid on a generational front-rower their derby rivals the Broncos never wanted to lose.

But after missing the Battle of Brisbane following a minor knock to his shoulder against the Wests Tigers on April 6 last year, Flegler has disappeared from the NRL.

The 25-year-old’s injury had Dolphins medicos perplexed and he underwent nerve-transfer surgery last September in a last-ditch bid to return Flegler’s shoulder to the point where he can play NRL again.

Now Flegler has received the first sign of hope, with specialists confirming his shoulder is showing signs of recovery in a critical first “checkpoint” to getting back on the field for the Dolphins.

Injured Dolphins star Tom Flegler has received some hope, with his shoulder showing signs of rcovery. Picture: NRL Imagery

While there are still no guarantees Flegler will play again, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf remains hopeful his No.1 prop could be back on the field - possibly this season.

“Tom has had some positive news,” Woolf said.

“The shoulder is in a positive position.

“Talking to the surgeon, the physios and the other medical staff, at this point what they wanted to see (with the damaged nerve in his shoulder) is showing signs of recovery.

“We can’t get too ahead of ourselves and too excited, but the next check point is some time in April.

“They will get a progression report from where his shoulder was in the last test to where it is in April, and then that determines what we can do with ‘Fleg’ after that to keep it progressing.

“We have a long way to go, but there are some positive signs after the surgery, which is what everyone was looking for.”

Revelations Flegler could be edging closer to a return will come as a boost for the Maroons firebrand, who was so talented as a teenager he was rated the next Shane Webcke coming through the Broncos system.

The Tully Tigers product was spotted in good spirits at last week’s NRL Pre-Season Challenge double header at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium, where Flegler was warmly greeted by former Broncos teammates.

Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf remains hopeful his No.1 prop will make it back on the field.

Compounding Flegler’s frustration, he is able to train at almost 100 per cent capacity. But one serious knock to his shoulder at such a delicate stage of his recovery could represent a career-ending blow and for that reason, the Dolphins are proceeding with caution.

Initial forecasts were that the 100-game prop could return in July, but Woolf is taking no risks and would be happy with a fit-and-firing Flegler in 2026.

“The first step is a positive one,” he said.

“It’s still an open book when he comes back. It depends on little checkpoints, it could be June or July, or it could be the end of the year.

“We just don’t know until it progresses a bit further.

“It’s not something that will change weekly.

“We don’t know everything just yet, but there is some real hope that his shoulder can come back to what it was before the surgery and before the injury.”

Initially bitterly disappointed, Flegler is pragmatic about his situation. He has come to terms with the fact he may not play again and if that’s the case, the Dolphins front-rower is protected financially.

While Flegler is able to train at almost 100%, one serious knock to his shoulder could end his career. Picture: NRL Images

The Junior Kangaroo star would be entitled to a full payout of his Dolphins contract, which would be exempt under NRL salary-cap rules if Flegler is forced into a medical retirement.

But Flegler is refusing to give up hope of a comeback and is doing everything possible to wear Dolphins colours again.

“Tom has been really good. I can’t give him enough of a wrap there,” Woolf said.

“The challenging thing about his situation is that all other injuries have an end-date, so you have something to aim for knowing that if you tick the boxes along the way, you will return to train or play.

“Tom hasn’t got that end-date, so it makes it a real challenge.

“He can’t do full training, but he is doing the majority of things. He is still strong with the weights. He does a large number of the skills with us. He has some limitations around contact until we see what point of recovery the shoulder is at. He can do limited contact. He can do a lot of things without being in a position to play.

“But he has been really good around the group and wanting to do things and be a positive contributor in a lot of ways on and off the field.

“Tom is an outstanding young man and an outstanding player as well.

“It’s been hard, but we are still very positive about getting a positive result at the end of it.”

DOLPHINS NAME NEW SKIPPER

Tenacious Tom Gilbert has capped an emotional fightback from serious injury with the Queensland Origin ironman winning the Dolphins captaincy.

The tough-as-nails forward was unveiled as Dolphins club captain at Redcliffe’s 2025 season launch on Friday night in a move that spearheads a bold new era for the fledgling NRL expansion team.

Gilbert’s coronation as captain is sweet reward for the popular 24-year-old, whose career was under a cloud last year when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, before battling a potentially fatal blood-clot condition.

It’s been 651 days since Gilbert last played an NRL match, but the Maroons workhorse has made a full recovery and celebrated a triumphant comeback despite the Dolphins’ trial loss to the Titans last Saturday night.

Now Gilbert is Redcliffe’s top dog, with the former Cowboys rookie taking over from retired skipper Jesse Bromwich with the blessing of new coach Kristian Woolf in the post-Wayne Bennett era.

Tom Gilbert has been named Dolphins captain for 2025. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Gilbert will make his captaincy debut when he leads the Dolphins out in next Friday night’s season opener at Suncorp Stadium – ironically against Bennett’s Rabbitohs.

Replacing premiership-winning enforcer Bromwich will be a massive assignment but Woolf says gutsy 58-game gladiator Gilbert exhibits all the traits of an NRL captain.

“The playing group respond to him and respect him,” Woolf said.

“Tom has proven to be a leader on and off the field and his influence in the locker room is ever-present, even with all the challenges he has faced in his career.

“The things we admire about Tom – the way he leads by example, his work ethic, and his love for the club – are the qualities I want our team to aspire to.”

Tom Gilbert suffered a pec injury while playing for Queensland in 2023.

Gilbert’s impact on the playing group was evident last season when the team elected to honour his initials on the Dolphins jersey after he was forced to miss the entire 2024 season with injury.

A foundation recruit, Gilbert played 11 games for the Dolphins in the club’s inaugural 2023 campaign before suffering a season-ending pec injury while representing Queensland in the Origin arena.

The hard-running lock then endured the devastation of 2024. He snapped his ACL in a trial match against the Warriors on February 24 before developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following the four-hour plane journey back to Brisbane from New Zealand.

The blood clot in his calf responded to early intervention and medication, but Gilbert soon found himself in hospital after it spread to his lungs – a condition that can be fatal in extreme cases.

Gilbert then did his knee in a trial game that ruled him out of the 2024 season. Picture: NRL Photos

Gilbert’s problem was detected quickly by Dolphins medical staff and emergency doctors, but the saga delayed an operation on his knee and effectively scuppered any hope of an NRL comeback last year.

“I was in the cardiac ward in hospital and there were a lot of people worse off and older than me,” Gilbert told this masthead last March.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh god, I’m 23 and in here’.

“It was a little scary but I was in good hands. I don’t really know how much worse it could have been.”

Skipper Gilbert will have the support of vice-captain Felise Kaufusi in a leadership group that also consists of Kenny Bromwich and veteran prop Mark Nicholls.

“All four players have been pivotal in the leadership of this club over the past two seasons,” Woolf said.

“These are the right men to lead the side moving forward.”

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader paid tribute to Gilbert’s toughness.

Gilbert can’t wait to get back onto the field after more than 18 months without playing an NRL game. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Tom has earned the respect of the playing group and club staff alike due to his leadership skills, personability and hard-working nature,” he said.

“From the day he joined the club, his leadership has been on display for all to see.

“The senior leadership group, including our inaugural captain Jesse Bromwich, has laid a strong foundation for our club, and their continued influence along with Tom’s captaincy will help drive the Dolphins forward in 2025 and beyond.”

Off the field, Gilbert recently embraced another exciting new role _ fatherhood. He and his partner Maddie welcomed their first child, a son Luca, and Gilbert lauded the support of the Dolphins during the toughest time of his career.

Tom Gilbert is the heart of the Dolphins team. Picture: NRL Photos

“When you’re lying on the ground with a pain in your knee you think straight away about what it could be,” said Gilbert, who is contracted until the end of 2028.

“I thought I dislocated it because I felt a pop and crack. I knew it wasn’t good and I’ve seen in the past how accurate the tests are.

“They said straight away it was my ACL. I was shattered.

“The Dolphins have shown a real commitment to me.

“I was fortunate to get a contract extension (in 2023) and the plan was to have a good time frame to work really hard and help the club be successful.

“The gesture from the club to put my initials on the jersey will never be lost on me. I shed a few tears when I found out about it.

“I haven’t been able to contribute to the team since May last year and that really means a lot to me.

“It’s tough watching from the sidelines but it’s really motivated me.

“I’m so lucky I’m at the Dolphins.”

Red carpet glamour: Dolphins launch third NRL season

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Originally published as Dolphins star Tom Flegler receives fresh hope for career-threatening injury