By Nick Wright
Kangaroos prop Thomas Flegler has launched his Dolphins tenure ahead of schedule, already beginning a pre-season battle with fellow firebrand Tom Gilbert in a clash that has one veteran eager to “sit back with some popcorn and watch those two go at it”.
Flegler was not due to start his time under coach Wayne Bennett as the club’s marquee recruit until January, but one of his new teammates, veteran Jarrod Wallace, said the three-time Queensland star was “first to put his hand up” when contact training kicked off on Tuesday morning.
Thomas Flegler, pictured taking on his soon-to-be Dolphins teammates, has begun his preseason at his new club ahead of schedule.Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
The 24-year-old Flegler has established himself as one of the more aggressive forwards in the NRL, and along with Gilbert is expected to forge a formidable counterpunch to lift the newest outfit towards finals contention in 2024.
“Every NRL team has a couple of crazy fellas in the middle – obviously we had plenty of experience and our crazy came out wide last year in (Felise) Kaufusi,” Wallace said.
“The leg speed he (Flegler) and Tommy (Gilbert) will give us through the middle, and the change in speed getting it to the halfbacks and getting to those outside backs quickly is going to be huge for us.
“He obviously isn’t meant to be back until January 8, or something like that, but it’s a new team, new boys, so he wants to get around the combinations, and he was first to put his hand up when it came to contact today.
“I heard him and Tommy Gilbert giving a bit of cheek there – it’s started already.”
Flegler’s addition, as well as the return from season-ending injuries for Gilbert and Ray Stone, will reignite the fight for spots in the Dolphins’ starting 17.
Wallace, on his part, is pushing to extend his career in Redcliffe. The former Maroon comes off contract at the end of next season, having moved from the Gold Coast Titans fuelled by a desire to play under Bennett again.
The 32-year-old has credited Bennett for bringing out his best, featuring in the Brisbane Broncos’ 2015 grand final under the master mentor.
Jarrod Wallace is pushing for a contract extension at the Dolphins.Credit: Getty
While Bennett will leave his role at the end of 2024, with assistant Kristian Woolf to take over, Wallace insisted his desire was to remain with the Dolphins.
His 210-games of NRL experience could be crucial for the pack, should captain Jesse Bromwich (35) and Mark Nicholls (33) not extend beyond their current deals.
And he declared his recent boxing camp in the off-season, in preparation for his bout with Melbourne superstar Nelson Asofa-Solomona, had readied him for a palpable campaign.
“It taught me a lot of things in the sense of breathing and trying to do things under a lot more fatigue,” Wallace said.
“I reckon it made me mentally better – the fight camp took me to some dark places. Obviously when you’ve played running around on the field for so long you know when you can hide from it, or catch a breath, but in the ring you can’t hide anywhere.
“That (re-signing with the Dolphins) obviously would be my plan. Wayne will be leaving, and I’m sure he’ll still be around, but to be able to stay and play another couple of years under Woolfy, that’s my goal.
“I get along really well with him, he’s exactly what I want in a coach – he tells me exactly where I am and how it is, and that’s why I love Wayne. Woolfy’s got every quality as a player I love playing under.”