By Nick Wright
Two years spent battling depth concerns in the back half of their maiden NRL campaigns could soon be a thing of the past as the Dolphins plot to roll out one of the most lethal forward packs in the competition.
Luckless Maroons star Tom Gilbert was spotted at preseason training itching to partake in Wednesday’s field session, barking at teammates about standards, in a promising sign he will be fit to play his first top-level game since last year’s State of Origin series opener.
The 24-year-old lock suffered a dislocated shoulder that night, not returning until the 2024 trials, in which he ultimately ruptured his ACL.
Tom Gilbert goes down in the Dolphins’ trial loss against the Warriors.Credit: Shane Wenzlick/Getty
Prop Thomas Flegler also appeared in good spirits, having gone through surgery to repair nerve damage in his shoulder – sustained in round five – that put his career at risk.
According to new assistant coach Rory Kostjasyn, the pair are tracking strongly. However, no timeline has been decided for when they will announce their comebacks.
“I’ve only seen small amounts of Tom [Gilbert] – physically, he looks good. I haven’t actually had any updates on where that’s at, but everything looks good from what I’ve seen when he’s on the field,” Kostjasyn said.
“His leadership ability and the way he talks in the group, he’s obviously well respected. He’s invested and hungry for success, not only for himself individually ... but he wants the best for this group of men and this club.
“Same with Tom [Flegler]. The reports I’m hearing, everything is going well at this stage. I can imagine he’s champing at the bit. It’s a boost for everyone to see him at training and getting around the group.”
Should the pair successfully return, the Dolphins could field one of the league’s more formidable engine rooms, with recruits Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and former New South Wales Blues enforcer Daniel Saifiti to join the squad in the coming week.
But while Kostjasyn – who played with and coached Saifiti at Newcastle – declared the 183-game Knight had the makings of “arguably the best front rower in the game”, a cohort of train and trial and development players are striving to ensure the club’s depth issues don’t haunt it.
The side started each year in strong fashion, threatening a top-four berth, before fading away as injuries and suspensions plagued their cause.
The Dolphins have one top-30 spot to fill, which ultimately may go to a recruit after they were linked to star halfback Ben Hunt.
But should that fall through, standout trialling names include former Cowboys and Raiders forward Peta Hola and one-time Bulldogs centre Ethan Quai-Ward.
The fruits of the Dolphins’ junior academy pathways were also on show at training in Carter Ford – son of the late, great Carl Webb – and Brian Pouniu, whose older brother Joseph’s promising career ended when he suffered a serious spinal injury.
“There was a lot of intensity and energy, and considering it’s the first time they’ve touched the footy in a few months, there wasn’t a whole heap of errors,” Kostjasyn said of the session.
“I’ve been quite impressed with the way they’ve turned up physically. If they can keep putting good days in, you never know, by round one, hopefully one of those guys is pushing themselves into a debut.”
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