NRL 2024: Dolphins recruit Tom Flegler’s ruthless response to Brisbane Broncos question

Dolphins recruit Tom Flegler has well and truly moved on from the Broncos given the way the Queensland Origin and Kangaroos star responded to questions about his former club.

Tom Flegler’s last game for the Broncos was the 2023 grand final loss to Penrith. Pics Adam Head

Dolphins enforcer Tom Flegler insists he has moved on from the Broncos, claiming he doesn’t care about who replaces him at Brisbane and he can’t wait to confront his former teammates.

Flegler reported for his first official team training session as a Dolphin on Tuesday, hitting the paddock at Redcliffe in a high-intensity workout under new coach Wayne Bennett.

Flegler and Herbie Farnworth became the latest Broncos players to be poached by the NRL’s newest club last year, adding another chapter to a growing rivalry between the Brisbane franchises.

Flegler, 24, bristled at questions about his former club, including when asked about who he thinks should take the next step at Red Hill following his departure.

“I don’t really care,” he said.

“It’s not really my problem, to be honest. I don’t really care what happens there.”

Flegler graduated through Brisbane’s development system alongside fellow Origin and Kangaroos forwards Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, making his NRL debut in 2019.

The trio developed a tight bond as one of the NRL’s most deadly middle forwards rotations in the run to last season’s grand final, but Flegler didn’t say much when asked what it would be like to play without them.

Tom Flegler trains in Redcliffe with the Dolphins NRL team. Picture supplied by The Dolphins

Tom Flegler has moved on from the Broncos. Picture: Dolphins

“I’m not too sure yet. I haven’t played without them,” he said.

“When round one comes and I’ve played a game I will let you know.”

But the 96-game prop is looking forward to his first Battle of Brisbane against the Broncos on April 12 at Suncorp Stadium following last year’s successful derbies, both won by the Broncos.

“Yeah it will be good. It is a friendly rivalry,” he said.

“It is always good coming up against an old club, not that I have done it yet, but I am sure it will be. A big game, big crowd.

“There are no hard feelings there. We are just mates playing footy.

“I have decided to take a different route to go where I want to go to. It is what it is.”

Flegler signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins before the start of the new club’s foundation season last year.

His decision brought his stint with the Broncos to an end after five NRL seasons and came just two days after Farnworth committed to the Dolphins.

Tom Flegler’s last game for the Broncos was the 2023 grand final loss to Penrith. Pics Adam Head

Flegler said the lure of playing under Bennett was hard to resist and the seven-time premiership-winning coach didn’t have to say much to convince him to sign with the Dolphins.

“He is pretty blunt. He just said, ‘Tom, we want you’,” he said.

“With a resume like that he doesn’t need to say too much to get people over the line.

“His resume speaks for itself. He is probably the greatest coach in the game. To be able to come here and get a year with him will be outstanding for me.”

Flegler steps into a forward pack including NRL veterans Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, Mark Nicholls and Jarrod Wallace.

It’s a different dynamic to the Broncos, whose top forwards in Haas and Carrigan are much younger than the Dolphins’ big boys.

Thomas Flegler (left), Payne Haas (centre) and Patrick Carrigan (right) came through the Broncos system together. Picture: AAP/Darren England

“It is an opportunity and a big challenge for me. That’s the reason why I came here,” Flegler said.

“What the older boys have done in this game is not easy to achieve. They are still the leaders of the pack at the moment. They are great to learn off and hopefully one day when their time comes to an end I can step into their role.

“Not every forward pack has players like that with the experience they have. That was probably the biggest thing that got me over the line.

“Jesse has got (Dally M) front rower of the year many times now. The Bromwich brothers and Felise have been in premiership winning teams and played for their country. They are going to be awesome to learn off.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Dolphins recruit Tom Flegler’s ruthless response to Brisbane Broncos question