Tom Gilbert named as new Dolphins skipper for 2025

It is more than 18 months since he last played a competitive game of NRL, but Tom Gilbert has been announced as the man to lead the Dolphins 2025 premiership challenge.

• In pictures: Dolphins season launch

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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